InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Always By Your Side ❯ Planning ( Chapter 6 )

Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha, its characters or any quotes I may use.

 

CHAPTER SIX: PLANNING

 

InuYasha walked through the school hallway completely absorbed in his physic's book. It was a start of a new week and they had a major test on Friday. He was trying to memorize the terms when a hand suddenly pulled him into the local utility closet.

“What the hell!”

InuYasha wrinkled his nose; the room smelled like Windex and dirty old rags.

“Wha-…”

A hand covered his mouth; his arms went flying in surprise, and knocked over a pile of washcloths, which happened to land on his head.

“Shhhh...shhh….ssshh! InuYasha, control yourself!” Ayame hissed as InuYasha continued to struggle, causing everything on the shelves to come tumbling down.

“It's me, Ayame,” she tried explaining to him as she dodged the fallen objects that InuYasha kept knocking to the ground.

“Ayame?” InuYasha stopped fighting and looked at her while pulling a rag off his head.

“Why the hell are we in a closet?” he asked, eyeing her suspiciously as he looked at his surrounding. They never really had much to say to each other, so he was confused and slightly annoyed at her for dragging him somewhere; and into a closet of all places.

“Do you not know what next week is?” she asked him.

He was the first person that was supposed to know about these things.

InuYasha looked at the girl while going through a quick check list in his head, but couldn't think of anything out of the ordinary.

“Don't tell me you forgot InuYasha Taisho!” Ayame exclaimed as she placed her hands on her hips.

InuYasha looked at the ceiling moving his eyes around, trying to figure out what he should have obviously known but came up nothing. Sighing in defeat he looked at Ayame's annoyed face and shrugged his shoulders.

“Hello. Your best friend…..goes by the name of Kagome,” Ayame raised her eyebrows at him watching if he showed any sign of recognition.

Only to find that InuYasha just stared at her waiting for Ayame to spell it out for him.

“What do I have to do…..draw you a picture?” Ayame said loudly throwing her hands up in the air.

“No, no drawing. Last time Miroku tried that….” InuYasha shuttered as he thought back to when Shippo made the mistake of asking Miroku a question about girls.

“….lets just things didn't exactly happen the way we expected.”

“What are you talking about? Are you even listening to what I'm saying?” Ayame looked at him with little patience left.

“Kagome's birthday is next week!”

InuYasha continued to look at Ayame waiting to see if she had something else to say. Of course he knew it was Kagome's birthday. He didn't understand why Ayame was making such a big deal.

“Yea, we're just going to grab something to eat and then go back to my house and give Kagome her presents,” InuYasha said thinking Ayame has completely lost her mind. “Ayame, we've been doing pretty much the same routine every year.”

“Oh my God,” Ayame said, looking as if she was going to tear him apart.

InuYasha took a step back, slightly afraid. But the small closet gave him little room to move.

“This isn't like every other birthday InuYasha,” she said poking him in the chest.

“It's not?” InuYasha stared at her.

“NO!” Ayame yelled causing InuYasha to jump.

“It's her 17th birthday and it only comes once in a lifetime,” she talked as though she was explaining this to a child.

“Don't all her birthdays come once in a lifetime?”

Last time he checked aging was the same for all humans….but maybe it was different for girls…..

“Pay attention InuYasha,” Ayame called out banging a long stick against the wall looking very much like a teacher scolding a misbehaved student.

InuYasha blinked, “Where did the stick come from?”

“Alright, here's the plan,” Ayame began pacing back and forth in the tiny room, which caused InuYasha to move around as well to avoid being hit with the stick that Ayame carelessly waved in all directions.

“We have to be extra careful or else Kagome is going to suspect something.”

Suddenly Ayame stopped moving and looked at InuYasha pointing the wooden object at his face almost touching his nose.

“Since you are around her the most, it's your job to make sure Kagome knows nothing.” Ayame made a dramatic emphasis on the word nothing.

“Got it?”

She snapped the stick against the wall once more causing a sharp WHACK! that echoed in the closet.

“Got it,” InuYasha replied nodding his head.

Ayame smiled approvingly, “Good.”

“Uhh…question?” the hanyou began carefully since Ayame was still holding a rather long stick and looked kind of intimidating.

Ayame gave a loud sigh, “What?”

“What exactly are we…hiding from Kagome again?” InuYasha asked looking more scared of Ayame than confused.

“Her surprise birthday party…duh,” Ayame said staring at InuYasha wide-eyed.

Guys could be so insensitive sometimes. Here she was, planning something special for Kagome, which was actually InuYasha's job since he was her best friend, and he couldn't even pay attention.

Idiot.

“I'm just not sure what…..”

Suddenly Ayame's eyes lit up and she squealed so loudly she could have put Mariah Carey to shame.

“OH MY GOD, I'VE SOOOO GOT IT!”

InuYasha cringed and gave the girl a hesitant look. “You've got what?”

Just then, the bell could be heard ringing through the door. Ayame reached down and grabbed her bag. “Meet me after school and make sure Kagome isn't with you,” Ayame said.

“I have some major ideas we need to chat about, `kay?”

“But Kagome and I have the same class last period….and I'm taking her home.” InuYasha knew that it was impossible to tell Kagome to go to home on her own without her being suspicious.

“InuYasha. You've got a brain, figure something out,” Ayame whispered as she cracked the door open and stuck her head out looking left and right making sure the coast was clear. When it was, Ayame quickly dashed out and told him quietly to not forget. She closed the door and InuYasha could hear the click of her boots echoing down the hall.

InuYasha rubbed a hand over his eyes and sighed, “Why me?”

He reached over to grab the door handle but jumped back when the door suddenly flew open.

“What are ye doing Mr. Taisho?”

InuYasha grimaced and scratched the back of his heck nervously, “Oh….hey Principle Kaede.”

Kaede Miko raised an eyebrow, “Would ye care to give me an explanation as to why ye are in a cleaning closet?”

“I….felt like cleaning?”

Kaede pointed down the hallway, “Go to class Mr. Taisho.”

Her voice said class, but her eyes defiantly said detention.

“Yes ma'm” InuYasha muttered as he slipped by and made his way to his classroom. All the while thinking of ways to murder Ayame without anyone missing her.

>>>>>>

Miroku pulled up to Sango's house and quickly went up to the door. They had a project due in science the next day and Sango made it quite clear she was tired of Miroku's stalling.

He knocked on the door and was greeted by Kohaku who gave him a fleeting smile before rushing past him and down the sidewalk.

Miroku frowned slightly as he shut the door and made his way into the kitchen, where he found Sango washing dishes and dancing to blaring music. Miroku crossed his arms and leaned against the door frame with a grin on his face as he watched Sango move her body and head to the music, her lips silently forming the words.

Now, any sane person who had known Sango for as long as Miroku had, would know to make his presence know right away. But as it had been proven on many occasions; Miroku was far from sane. And obviously had a death wish.

“Holy shit!”

Sango dropped the plate she was holding and placed both hands over her heart, “Damn it Hoshi! What the hell are you thinking just standing there?”

Miroku tilted his head, a lecherous grin on his lips and a gleam in his eyes, “I'm thinking you've got a great ass.”

Clunk.

Miroku winced and rubbed the side of his head as Sango walked back to the sink, a large wooden spoon in her hand.

“Pervert” she muttered.

“Sorry Sango.” Miroku said with a laugh, “I just can't help myself.”

Sango rolled her eyes as she bent down to pick up the plate, “I'm sure. Lucky for you this wasn't glass.”

She set the plate in the cupboard and leaned against the counter, “Are you ready to do this project?”

“If I say no, will it evolve pain?”

Sango glared and Miroku sighed, “Then yes. I'm ready.”

Sango nodded in satisfaction and went to another cupboard, “Have you given any thought to what you want to use for the model?”

Miroku stared at her back, “Uhh…”

“Thought so. So I came up with a plan.”

Miroku grinned, “I knew there was another reason other then your beautiful legs that I was glad I got assigned to be your partner. Ofgh!”

Miroku fell backwards off his chair as Sango forcefully threw a bag of marshmallows at his head, knocking him off balance.

“Focus on the project you walking hormone.”

Miroku jumped to his feet, trying to look as dignified as possible for someone who'd just fallen off of a chair, “Right. So what are we going to do with the marshmallows?”

Sango took a seat opposite of him, “Well….I was thinking we take toothpicks, and stick the marshmallows together to create our model, along with a little glue. Then the food color with represent the different sections.”

Miroku nodded, “Ahhhh.”

Sango sighed, “You have no idea what this is supposed to be, do you?”

“No idea.”

Sango put a hand to her head, “This is going to be a long day.”

>>>>>>

An hour later Miroku finished reciting back to Sango what their project was about and what the model was supposed to look like.

“And so every clump of marshmallows is supposed to be like the different plants, and the food coloring will make the difference between the planets. Right?”

Sango let her head drop to the table, “Only God knows why it took an hour for you to understand that” she looked up and gazed at the boy through her bangs, “And how the hell you manage to pull a B plus average.”

Miroku grinned, “One of my many talents.”

Sango made a face, “Don't want to hear it. Can we just get to work?”

Miroku nodded and Sango opened the bag of marshmallows.

Sango's job was to pour the food coloring onto the little globs of sugar and then hand them to Miroku, who in turn was to stick them together with the toothpicks and glue; hopefully making them into large round planet looking things.

Soon Sango heard a lot of nibbling going on and not too much sticking so she looked up to see Miroku had eaten almost every marshmallow she had given him!

“Aggggggghhhhh!!!!!!!” Sango's mind screamed, “God, are you TRYING to torture me?!”

Miroku's cheeks were poofed out like a hamster and he caught Sango's gaze with wide eyes. 

“Miroku!” she cried “Those were for the project!”

“Noph mph fauph!”

Sango glared, “You jerk! I'll give you a `Noph mph fauph'!”

She took a marshmallow and threw it at Miroku, striking him right in the forehead. He in turn almost choked on the ones in his month. Grinning as well as he could with his mouth stuffed; Miroku grabbed another marshmallow off the table and flung it hard, hitting Sango on the cheek. This continued, with marshmallows flying everywhere, until finally Miroku was forced to surrender. 

“OK, OK white flag! I give up!” Miroku shouted.

Sango still held a marshmallow in her grasp and raised it perilously.

“You wouldn't strike down a prisoner of war, now would you?” the boy pleaded.

“Maybe. After all, you ate half the bag, you pig!”

“No fair! I was feeling hungry!”

“And I'm feeling mean!”

And with that Sango flung the marshmallow but Miroku ducted just in time. The little glob of sugar flew past his head and hit the wall, making a nasty squishy noise.

They both stared at the wall in with wide eyes, then erupted into laughter and Miroku came out of hiding.

Sango sighed, “We are so going to fail.”

Miroku grinned, “Don't worry. I'm sure Shippo will be able to come up with something.”

“You know, you can't always count on him to fix your homework messes” Sango said as she knelt down to pick up the fallen marshmallows.

Miroku got down to help her, “Hey, you never know. He sure is small enough….I could always just stuff him in my locker at college.”

“It'll be a miracle if you graduate high school Miroku” Sango said dryly.

“Hey, a guy can dream.”

Miroku crawled over to the garbage and dragged it back to the table, “Oh, I almost forgot. What was with Kohaku earlier?”

Sango froze, “What do you mean?”

“Well when I got here, he practically ran me over leaving the house.”

“He's gone?”

Miroku frowned, “You didn't know?”

Sango dumped the marshmallows into the trash then got to her feet dusting off her hands, “Kohaku and I haven't exactly been agreeing very much lately.”

“Are you serious?”

Sango nodded, “Yeah. He insists on hanging out with the dirt bag Naraku.”

“Ooohhhh. I didn't know.”

“No one really does. And frankly I'd like to keep it that way. It's just too much right now.”

Miroku put the trash back and sat at the table again, “Too much? What do you mean?”

“Kikyo.”

Miroku scoffed and shook his head, “Why the hell won't you let this go?”

“Why the hell should I?” Sango snapped.

“Look. InuYasha's interested in her, and Kagome seems to think it's okay.”

“That crap and you know it. Kagome's only keeping her mouth shut because she knows how InuYasha feels. She'd rather shoot herself in the face then tell him she doesn't approve of his choice.”

Miroku laughed, “Now that is crap. Kagome have never been anything less then completely honest with InuYasha. Why would she change that now?”

Sango bit her lip, “I think it's because she's finally realized how she really feels.”

Miroku's eyebrows shot up, “Say what?”

“I know. That's what I said too. But after listening to Ayame I-”

“Wait. Ayame? Why the hell are you listening to what she says?”

“Well why not?”

Miroku sighed, “Don't get me wrong. Ayame can be a nice girl. But she's a wolf demon; 20 bucks says she's got something else on her mind, something that will help her. Not Kagome or InuYasha.”

Sango bit her lip, “Well….I guess. But ulterior motive or not. She's right. I've really been thinking about this. And I really think Kagome has deeper feelings for InuYasha then just friendship. And I think that's what's keeping her from saying no about Kikyo.”

“But that doesn't make any sense.”

“Sure it does. Since Kagome's discovered these new feelings, she's unsure and a little confused. That's why she's denying it so venomously. And I'm guessing that she thinks if she says something she's only interfering out of jealousy, and not because she's thinking of what's best for InuYasha.”

Miroku blinked and Sango laughed, “What?”

“How much free time do you have?”

“And what do you mean by that?”

“You must seriously not have a life…if you've been able to come up with this….in this short of time. So I ask again, how much free time do you have?

Sango sighed, “I guess a little too much. But this is serious Miroku. Kikyo doesn't belong with InuYasha. Kagome does. And it's up to us to make sure that happens before it's too late.”

“What do you suggest?”

“Well….Ayame's got it into her head that changing Kagome will help. And she's got Rin leaning that way too. But I think we just need to keep hinting.”

“Hinting? And why do you keep saying we?”

Sango grinned, “Because you're going to help me. We have to be careful, if we interfere too much, this could all blow up in our faces.”

Miroku groaned, “Have you forgotten? I happen to like Kikyo.”

“Then do me a favor. Watch her. I mean really watch her. So far I'm the only one she's shone her true colors around. And Kirara. But she can't do anything about it.”

“And why not?” Miroku demanded.

“And of course Rin and Ayame can see that she's bad news. But they've got some wacky plan.”

“Sango I don't-”

Sango growled in frustration, “Are you going to help me or not!”

“Fine.” Miroku held up his hands, “Look, I'll check her out. But if I still think it's just all in your head….you have to promise to back off.”

Sango grumbled but finally agreed.

>>>>>>

“Hey InuYasha!”

InuYasha turned from his car to see Kirara running towards him.

“Hey Kirara.”

“I thought you were meeting Ayame after school.”

InuYasha rolled his eyes, “Yeah. I got detention.”

Kirara laughed, “Not even going to ask.”

“Keh.”

“Anyways, I'm supposed to be your backup for anything you need in planning Kagome's party.”

InuYasha put his backpack in his car, “Oh…thanks….I uh…”

“You have no idea.”

InuYasha laughed and sat on the seat, “Pretty much.”

Kirara leaned against the car and waved a hand, “Don't worry. I'll call you later and we can figure it out, sound good?”

InuYasha nodded, “Yeah. But why is Ayame so interested in this?”

“What do you mean?”

“I know she and Kagome are friends, but not really that close. Ayame's never really taken a part in parties for Kagome before. Or anything else for that matter.”

Kirara shrugged, “Change of heart?”

“Keh.”

“Are you complaining?”

InuYasha shook his head, “Not really. It's usually just been me and Kagome on her birthday…then the others later.”

“Then it's the perfect surprise. And speaking of just you and Kagome….” Kirara grinned, “Have you two finally gotten your act together and decided to go out?”

“What are you talking about?” InuYasha exclaimed, surprised to hear something like that; especially from Sango's cousin.

Kirara laughed “Come on, InuYasha, don't give me that. I know you too well. You and Kagome have been crazy about each other since, well, forever!” she responded knowingly.

“And you say that because?” InuYasha asked very confused.

“Kagomeis my best friend;granted my very hot,talented,and charming best friend, but still nothing more…..right?”

“You two are always flirting everywhere we go. I'm not the only one who notices. I don't even hang out with you and I know this. At parties, you're one of the only guys Kagome will dance with, and you two are always hanging out together, alone.” she stressed.

“So?” he wondered before casually glancing at his watch.

Kirara just shook her head, “God you are dense” she teased.

Before InuYasha could protest Kirara walked off, “I'll call you later.”

InuYasha just shrugged and turned his car on.

>>>>>>

Standing next to her car, Kirara watched InuYasha drive away; a frown on her face.

“Get it together InuYasha. Don't do something stupid.”