InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A Spoonful of Sugar ❯ Substitute ( Chapter 2 )

[ P - Pre-Teen ]

Substitute
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“Inuyasha?” Kagome peered around the corner of the now deserted corridor. The school had emptied out in less than five minutes—traffic didn't last long on Fridays.
 
She frowned. She was sure she'd heard his voice… Shrugging in disappointment, she ducked into the dark photography room, figuring that she could at least develop a few rolls of film for class before Souta finished his test. She flipped on the light switch—
 
And froze.
 
“What are you—?”
 
The two boys that flanked either side of Inuyasha jumped. One leaped at Kagome and shoved her against the wall. She squeaked and struggled out of his grasp, running for the other side of the room. “What the hell?”
 
Her assaulter lunged for her again, but was intercepted by Inuyasha, who threw a punch at him, knocking the guy against the wall. “I didn't say you could hurt her.”
 
“Wasn't gonna,” the gang member muttered, rubbing his sore head.
 
“Good,” said Inuyasha, giving him the Evil Look. His long dark locks swung as he swiveled his head to look at Kagome.
 
She couldn't hold back a flinch. This wasn't the Inuyasha she knew. This wasn't the silver-tongued rogue that could melt her into a pile of mush with a devastatingly handsome smile. This was a stranger. A stranger with hard eyes and a cigarette in his hand.
 
“Since when do you smoke?” she blurted.
 
He rolled his eyes heavenward and turned back to the two thugs. “Get outta here,” he ordered. “I'm good.”
 
“But now she—”
 
“I said go.”
 
“If you get us in trouble, man…”
 
“She won't squeal, okay? I'll make sure she doesn't. Now get the hell outta here before I have to make you.”
 
They shrugged and strolled out of the photo room, leaving only Kagome and Inuyasha behind.
 
Inuyasha just looked at her, twiddling the cigarette between his fingers.
 
Kagome stared back. She was going on a six-month crush now. And she'd thought she was close to the point of getting asked out—they were talking more, there were those special smiles, and they were running into each other more and more…
 
“You don't need that,” she said, motioning towards the cigarette.
 
He flicked a glance down at it. “I don't, huh.”
 
“No. You don't. You need your lungs for basketball and hockey. And not to mention actual day to day breathing?”
 
“I know.”
 
“Cigarettes will kill you. Guaranteed included.”
 
She didn't care if she sounded like a nagging wife. She really didn't care what he thought of her now. She wanted to know what was up with him smoking.
 
“No joke.”
 
“So what are you doing them for?” she cried. “You don't need to! You have above a 3.5 GPA, you play two varsity sports—”
 
He threw the cigarette on the floor, crushing it beneath his foot. “It's to distract me from an addiction.”
 
“What, more nicotine to ease the lack of?” she scoffed.
 
“No…” he said slowly, looking at her strangely. “It's not nicotine I'm addicted to. This is only my third time. Or would've been.”
 
“Smoking is stupid.”
 
He mumbled something she couldn't hear.
 
“What?”
 
“Nothing.”
 
“No, what'd you say?”
 
“I said it's nothing.”
 
“Inuyasha!” She grabbed his shoulders. “Tell me!”
 
He gave her a deep searching look and then wrapped his arms around her, tugging her into a tight embrace.
 
“Wh-what d'you think you're—”
 
“Do I scare you?” he said, resting his forehead on hers.
 
“I…” Not until now. Not until I realized I don't really know who you are… “Not really.”
 
“Not good,” he scolded. “You should be scared of me. Very scared. I'm dangerous, Kagome, very dangerous.”
 
“What do you mean?” Why is he telling me this? Is he… is he trying to tell me he isn't interested? That there's no hope for us?
 
He ducked his head and teased her with a rough kiss. Nothing like she'd expected her first kiss to be like. It was desperate, harsh… trying to prove something?
 
“Scared yet?” he said when he pulled back.
 
She pursed her lips. “Inuyasha, whatever you're trying to say, just spit it out. I promise I won't take it badly.”
 
He ran a finger along her cheek, the contact making her shiver. “I'm nursing my addiction to you. Only you'd never fall for a thug like me. Nicotine is the best escape. Love hurts much, much worse than smoking.”
 
She gulped, her heart having jumped in her throat. Love? What was he on about? He was eighteen to her seventeen; what did they know of love? Weren't they too young?
 
But then again…since when did love have an age requirement?
 
Kagome drew in a shaky breath. “Is that all?”
 
His face hardened. “Yeah, pretty much.”
 
This time it was her turn to surprise him. She rose on tiptoe, pressing her lips to his in a sweet, simple kiss that earned her an approving look when she pulled back.
 
Kagome smiled. “If that's the problem… nurse this addiction all you want.”
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A/N: I will alternate between writing Miroku/Sango and Inuyasha/Kagome. Maybe I'll throw in some Rin/Kohaku, Sesshoumaru/Kagura… hm. We'll see. =) Tell me what you think!