Sooo… I'm back! ^.^

There's nothing much to say, really, so let's get on with the chapter! ;)

Oh, wait: in the beginning, I said that this story would be about twenty chapters, but as I've planned the chapters out and such, I realized that it's going to have to be longer!

Bitter or Sweet?

Disclaimer: Yeah, yeah, you know the drill- I don't own

Chapter 12: Ice-cream and Beer

Walk out my house with my swagger
Hop in that with dough, I got places to go!
People to see, time is precious
I looked at my cotty, are ya outta control

You spin my head right round, right round
When you go down, when you go down down
You spin my head right round, right round
When you go down, when you go down down

~Flo Rida ft. Ke$ha: Right Round

INUYASHA'S POV

"Inuyasha, sweetie, she's fine. Please eat something." Mom tries to reason with me, shaking my gently by the shoulder, attempting to rouse me up from my chair.

Face still buried in my arm, I shake my head sleepily. "I'm fine."

"Kagome's not in any danger- you have to realize that. She's probably not going to wake up until tomorrow or so because she's tired. Maybe the reason why she had that episode today was due to stress, you know? It's two in the morning, Inuyasha. I know you've never been patient, but you have school tomorrow."

Right.

School.

What's the point of that place, again? Someone remind me, please.

"I'm not worried," I scowl. "I'm just not hungry."

"Well, then, can you go to sleep?"

I sigh. "Mom, just go to bed already. I have to finish up some stupid report and then I'll sleep. Okay?"

"Since when do you do homework? It's been forever since you've used that word. It even sounds funny hearing you say it."

I roll my eyes. "Kagome wants me to 'apply my IQ because I'll, apparently, do great things in life,' as she so elegantly put it. I'm forced to comply."

"And why's that, Inuyasha?" My mother's always been tolerant—perhaps not calm (since she's a bit eccentric) and calm, but certainly smart and clever. She has an amazing poker face even though people think she's the most open person in the world. They're wrong.

I think about my answer carefully before speaking. "Ms. Kai, the councilor woman, told me I wouldn't be able to graduate."

"I thought you didn't care about graduating."

"But you do, don't you?" I ask.

Quietly, she says, "The deal. Remember? I can't nag you about that anymore. Although I'd like to, I really don't have the right."

Oh no. I hate it when our conversation turns in this particular direction. Trying not to wince, I refuse to meet her eyes, knowing that what I'll see there will be too painful for me to bear. "Mom… let's drop it. Anyways, if I don't raise my grades a little, Kagome will probably be in a bit of trouble, too."

Mom's eyes widen a little. "Does that-?"

"Um, sorry, Mom," I interrupt, "but I still have that report. Good night."

She throws me a skeptic look, but nods once and ruffles my hair before walking out of my room. Yes, she touched my head, but she's the only one who I allow to do that.

I swear.

After about fifteen minutes, my phone vibrates.

God. I completely forgot about the Friday project that Myoga assigned us- well, I didn't forget it. Miroku and I just hadn't planned it. But really? Who cares? And, uh, I do not appreciate his morning call. "Goddammit, Miroku, do you know what freaking time it is? This better be good, or I swear there will be consequences."

"I'm so sorry, Inuyasha!" a voice apologizes frantically. "I'll talk to you tomorrow-!"

"Wait! No, K-Kagome, don't hang up!"

"You're right, it's ridiculous for me to call you this early. Did I wake you up? Ugh, I woke you up, didn't I?"

I shake my head fervently, then realize a second later that she can't see that. Haha, and Kagome says I'm smart. "I was awake! Really, I was. Just doing the report due on Monday- and don't laugh at me for finally doing my homework, 'cause it's your fault. Anyways, how… well, how are you?"

"I'm… not fine."

"Oh."

Brilliant response, I know.

But I was honestly expecting her to laugh easily and tell me she was okay now, that a bit of crying was really all she needed. But I guess Kagome's humanness can't be evaded.

"I mean," she adds quickly, "I feel a lot better. But there's so much I'm thinking about, and things have been very hectic for me… Not only that, but literally cried myself to sleep- in front of a bunch of people. I think we can both understand why I'm feeling embarrassed and why I feel like shooting myself in the foot."

"That's really not necessary, Kagome. And about the crying issue- you want me to be honest with you on how I feel about it?"

Pause. "Yes," she finally says.

"I, myself, would never in my life break down in front of others. In fact, I rarely even cry. I do get what you mean by embarrassment. But…I do not flatter people unless, you know, I would somehow benefit from it, but I don't think of you as a crybaby. I'd like to say that I know how you feel and sappy crap like that, but I don't, because both my parents are alive. So although I can't even imagine the pain you feel, I know that… I know that despite the fact that I'm not the nicest person, my family is much more important to me than most people will ever know. Except Sesshomaru. He's a bitch."

The last bit was an attempt to lighten the very heavy atmosphere, and it worked; Kagome laughed.

"Yash, please don't become a therapist. I promise, if you do, the human death rate will increase exponentially."

"Hey, that's rude."

"Sorry. Anyways, I just thought I'd let you know the original reason why I called was to say… thank you. Sango called me and told me what you did. So thanks—I'm grateful."

"You should be. You're not as light as you look."

I hear her sigh over the phone. "Well, you definitely don't beat around the bush."

"It's not my thing."

"I can tell," she states wryly. "Also, I'm not coming to school. Sango told me Ayame already informed Koga with my deepest regrets, so I thought I'd stay at home and just rest. Mom's given me permission, too, so I'm good to go."

I can't believe I'm going to say what I think I'm going to say: "Kagome, do you want me to stay with you?" Wow. I actually said it. Inuyasha, you are officially a greater idiot than Sesshomaru and Miroku combined. And that's saying something.

"What'd you mean?"

"In case you get lonely or somethin' because your mom's really busy, isn't she?"

"Aw, Yashie, that's probably the sweetest thing you've ever said to me so far!" she coos. "What a good boy!"

"Shut up!"

She laughs again. Then, the laughter dies down. "…But you don't have to do that. I mean, don't get me wrong, I appreciate the thought completely. Although I'm not a hundred percent okay right now, if I actually let myself feel hurt and sadness from now on, I think I'll be able to recover. Properly."

"You sure do like to flatter yourself. Ever think that maybe I don't want to go to class?"

"Jerk."

"No way in hell."

"Yes."

"NO."

"YES!"

"No, dammit!"

"And why not?"

"'Cause no sane guy watches a sappy rom-com while eating a tub of ice-cream! That's a girl thing! And I ain't a girl!"

Kagome pouts, crossing her arms. "But I want to."

"I want a lot of things, but do I always get them? No."

She elbows me. "Please, Yash? Pretty please with almonds and whipped cream on top?"

"Euk, I hate whipped cream and almonds together. What the hell, Kagome."

Apparently, she didn't care, because in the end, she won.

I had to sit through the Titanic, the Notebook, The Princess Bride, Romeo and Juliet, and a Walk to Remember (which was Kagome's favorite. She was sobbing right through it- she practically knew all the lines and memorized quotes- creepy). While eating ice-cream, which I admit, was a plus.

At the end of each movie, Kagome cried her eyes out, and she did it proudly, if that makes any sense.

By late afternoon, all the desserts were gone, and the movies had all been watched. Kagome blows her nose.

"Sometimes it's so nice to lounge around the house—"

"While bawling and gaining fat and calories at the same time? Yeah. Definitely 'nice.'"

"Inuyasha, sarcasm isn't always the most attractive trait. Sometimes you should lay off it, yeah? It's what makes you, I don't know, a bit cold. Unreachable. I know guys don't normally want to be considered warm and fluffy like rabbits, but it's just that even though you're popular, the only real friend you seem to have is Miroku, and possibly Koga…" she trails off for a bit, expression thoughtful. "I think that you're a lot nicer than you lead on. I really wish I'll be able to reach you someday. Until then, can we be friends?"

"Did you seriously just ask that?" I think all those movies must have gotten to her head.

"I had fun today," she insists, grabbing my wrist in a death-hold and shaking me. Whoa. She's strong. "Didn't you have fun, too? C'mon—be honest: tell the truth. You had fun didn't you? Didn't you? Ha, you did! I can tell—it's written all over your little face!"

Looking all giddy like that… what could I say?

Sure, it's kinda awkward having to sit down with your neighbor and eat strawberry-chocolate ice-cream together while watching shitty romance on the television, but… I didn't not have fun.

When I don't say anything, her grin widens, and she rattles me again. "We're buddies, then?"

"Kagome. You have you killed me with your deathly use of vocabulary," I say, voice flat and deadpanned.

"…You're still a jerk, Yash."

"And you're still a bitch," I sigh.

"Take that back!"

Mrs. Higurashi stumbles in through the door with her arms full of groceries.

Getting up to help her (as I'm kind of obliged to do so anyway), Kagome follows along, and her mother looks surprised to see her somewhat normal again.

About an hour ago, Kagome announced that she felt like talking to someone, and that because I was her new buddy, I had to listen to her. She wasn't going to take 'no' for an answer, so she ended up telling me a lot: about some dumbass teacher she had in the fourth grade who scared the crap out of her, about the first boy she had a crush on (which I didn't like having to sit through by the way- it was disturbing), about how she met Sango and Ayame, and about her dad.

She leaked a bit throughout it. Now I have to put my shirt in the dryer.

"How was your day?" Kagome's mother asks cautiously.

"Oh, fun," Kagome smiles, raising an eyebrow at me. "Who knew Inuyasha was such a sucker for romance?"

"Lies!" I accuse her, pointing a finger in her face. "I hated—"

A slight ding sounds, and Kagome reaches into her pocket. "Hello? Ayame?"

"Kagome? You sound better…"

"The day off from school totally worked- I feel so happy knowing I missed several hours of sitting behind a desk and listening to my teachers go 'blah blah blah!' And the chocolate helped, too."

"Well, if you're feeling good enough, Ryoga- the one from our art class?- is having a party at around six or so. Do you want to come, or still need time?"

I open my mouth to tell her that she should stay home, but Kagome nods into the phone. "I want to distract myself; the party sounds great!"

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah!"

"Alright, I'll pick you up at around… 5:45? Do you know what you're gonna wear?"

She smirks, which is my trademark thing. Copycat. "No, but I will soon! See you, Ayame! Oh, and tell San I say 'hi' too, 'kay? Bye."

I glower at her once she turns to me. "Seriously? You're going to go to a party? Now I'm starting to think you just faked those tears earlier. Jeez, Kagome, bipolar much?"

"Oh, please. Do toy know how long it's been since I've gone to a party?"

"Humor me."

"If you don't count Sango, Ayame, Mom, Gramps, or Sota's birthday… the last time I went to a party was in elementary school. And those could hardly be considered parties, right? So, I think I deserve to go to one high school party… don't you agree?" She doesn't give me a chance to answer, because she's already bounding up the stairs. If this is Kagome's definition of R and R then she is officially crazy.

Bleep.

I check my phone. It's a text from Miroku.

Are you coming?

'If you mean the party, then no,' I type back.

Do what you want. And by the way, you owe me for bailing on me today.

'Whatever.'

Later.

'Bye.'

In precisely twenty-two minutes, Kagome comes down, and her mom pops her head out of the kitchen when she hears her footsteps.

Her eyes were still swollen from the crying, but most of the redness was concealed, and her eyes were luminous, lashes long and thick from mascara and a slight touch of eyeliner. On her lips was what looked like lip balm- no lipgloss. She was wearing a one-shouldered baby pink slouchy shirt, with a black tank top showing underneath. On the bottom were jeans, and her hair is loose. (AN: please don't think of Inu as a creep for Kagome's description) Kagome pulls on her red mittens, and reaches for her brown jacket.

"Wow, sweetie, you look great! Are you going somewhere? I mean… you know, maybe you should take it easy?"

"It's Friday, Mom—Can't I go? Please? It's a party of one of my friends. Not a big one, though."

"Who's taking you?

"Ayame is. She'll be here in a couple minutes."

"Alright… well, have fun Kagome! And don't get pregnant—I want grandchildren, but I'd prefer if that happened a little later. You know, at least when you're in university? And only with someone I approve. I want the babies to look adorable."

Kagome rolls her eyes, and tosses me a wave before heading outside.

The clock reads 7: 56.

Honestly, what am I doing, lounging around the house like I've got nothing better to do? Wait. I don't. Damn.

Bored, I flip open my cell and dial Koga.

"Who is it?"

"Mary Poppins."

"Haha, very funny Inuyasha. So what do you want?"

"Entertainment. I've got nothing to do."

"Homework?"

"Oh, please. I'm not spending Friday doing some lame-ass assignment that is probably a total waste of time."

He thinks about it. "Well, I bet you've already heard about that freshman party taking place. Yet you're at home moping."

"Well so are you."

"But I'm not the one phoning others to pass the time, am I?"

Good point. "So what, you're saying I should go?"

"It seems like a boring babyish party but you've got nothing else, right? Yeah, you should go. Maybe get yourself a freshman girlfriend or something like that."

"Right. Anyways, bye."

"You're not going to say 'thanks'?"

"No point."

"You suck. Bye."

I walk in, surprised to see that a lot of people actually showed up. Two enormous stereos pound with music, and the room is packed with students dancing recklessly to the beat.

And of course, there's a table for girls who are actually drunk enough to strip.

The girl who's currently up there is sporting a hot pink tank top coming up to the stomach, and jeans cut at the knees. And she's singing a guy song- "I know you want me" by Pitbull- while a bunch of bastards hoot, giving her cat calls and chanting for her to take something off. "I know you want me, want me. You know I want ya, want ya. I know you want me, you know I want ya!"

Then some random dude jumps up and begins to dance with her. The girl just goes along with, actually grinding with him.

Typical.

I spot a familiar face- dancing with a not-so-familiar face.

Kagome is dancing with some creeper who's probably set out to have sex with her by the end of the night. That's so not going to happen. I try to push myself towards them, but it's hard to get anywhere with so many people. As I get closer, I notice how Kagome seems a bit woozy, swaying a bit unnaturally and seeming unbalanced and too light at times.

Some seniors or juniors probably came to the party and spiked the punch or something.

I finally get to Kagome, and yank her away from the grasp of the guy who was trying to get her to pull down her one-shoulder top.

"What are you doing!" I yell over the noise, hoping she'll hear.

Her hand is on the strap of the shirt, trying to pull it down instead of over her head. Her eyes have an unfocused look to them. "Woah, that dude was right! It is hot in here! Woo! This top is suffocating me! I'm takin' it off! Wanna help?"

"Kagome, keep it on. You're fifteen—why are you tipsy?"

"I dunno!" she burps. "All I had was some coke! What's so wrong with that, huh? HUH? A girl can't even have her coke? Gee whiz! Say, I wanna go up on that table and dance! It looks like fun! Come up there with me, hmm? Ooh, that thing they're doing- the one where it's kinda like they're doing the tango but really close together- looks sooo exciting! C'mon, let's do that!"

She did not just ask to grind with me. Oh gosh, she's scaring me. "You are not going up there!"

"Of course I am!"

"I won't let you!"

She tears up. "I'm too ugly to strip?"

"What? No, I didn't say that!"

She immediately perks up. "Oh, okay then. But if you don't wanna dance, I'll just get someone else-"

"You'll do no such thing, wench!"

She giggles continuously. "Heh, you called me wench! Tee hee. Then she randomly bursts out in song. "All my life I've been good, but now- woahoh oh oh oh oh oh, thinking what the hell? All I want is to mess around. And I do-n't really care about if you love me, if you hate me, you can't save me, baby, baby! All my life I've been good, but now, woahoh~ what the hell!" ("What the Hell" by Avril Lavigne)

"How many cups of coke?"

"Three."

"Then why the fuck are you so drunk?" I yell, the noise hard to overcome.

She burps again. How attractive and feminine. "I told you- I wanna dance!"

I grip her wrist and pull her out of the crowd. It takes half an hour, but I manage to push her into the passenger seat of the car.

"Where're we goin'?" she asks me, slurring her words. "I didn' dance yet! Poopie! Quack."

"Home."

"EH?"

"I want your mom to take care of you."

"No, no, no, no, no!" she tsks, shaking her head. "I'm afraid that won't do at all, mister!" She shakes a finger in my face.

"Kagome, I can't see! Fuck!" I swear when I almost cross over onto the other lane. The truth is, I don't even have my license yet, but I can drive.

"Ya know, I'm bored. I don't like sitting so still!"

"You're sitting still? Then why're you moving so much?"

She ignores me. "The guy who was dancing with me said I turned him on, so you know what I said to him? I said, how can I turn you on if you don' have no 'on' button? Then he asked if he could grab my ass so I asked him if he was besties with Miroku. Then he tried to kiss me and stuff, but euk- his breath stinked like poop! Ooh, gross!" Suddenly, out of nowhere, she sticks her face in front of mine, only centimeters away.

I swerve. "I can't see! Get out of the way!"

She does.

"You're breath's okay," she decides, nodding as if pleased with the fact. "If you wanna kiss me, I'll let you 'cause your breath don't smell like cheese and apricots together."

Cheese and apricots? What—? "Kagome, sorry, but I'm not going to kiss you."

"Well, why not?" Giggle. Snort.

"We just became friends! What kind of jackass would I be if I kissed you when you're obviously not sane?"

She laughs carelessly. "Ah, who cares if I'm a tiny bit tipsy? I still wanna kiss!"

"No."

"Then I'll have to do it myself!"

"No, I still won't let you!"

"But if I do it, then you don't have a choice-"

I shake my head. "I know you're not going to, Kagome. You're just saying this because it amuses you to tease me. I'm certain that you never were really going to pull a move. You're just trying to find something funny to laugh at, because you're the kind of person who can't stop laughing when drunk."

Silence. "Who're you, anywho?" she asks, voice sounding airy.

"Inuyasha."

"OMG!" she laughs. "I have a friend who's named Inuwasha too! What a coincidence, right?"

"Right…"

"Pool."

I sneak a glance at her. "What?"

"When my dad was alive, we loved to splash around in a pool together in the summer time. I always had fun—we always had fun. In the yearbook for when I was younger, I wrote that as one of my hobbies. But the truth is I hate the water. I have ever since Dad died."

"Kagome—"

"I really miss him. I was kind of a Mama's girl at times, but he was so dear to me. And then he died, that jerk. I loved him but he left anyway." Despite still sounding drunk, her voice softened, sounding almost thoughtful and mournful, hands trembling in her lap.

I take one hand off the wheel and reach out for her, to touch her messy hair maybe, but then she makes a weird face. "What's wrong?"

She hurls, throwing up in my car.

"Aw, fuck!"

AN: I do not own the songs "I know you want me" and "what the hell." They belong to rightful owners/artists.

Hope you liked the chap! See you all soon!

Thank you Daichi, for editing this kinda crappy episode of Bitter or Sweet!

Daichi: Crappy episode? C'mon you guys review so that she doesn't think that way! Obviously, this was so effin' hilarious. I nearly died just reading it. REVIEW FOR HER!