InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Bad Influences ❯ Bad Influence #Two: "Rule Bending" ( Chapter 2 )

O_O Wow…either there was something wrong with my computer, or you guys REALLY liked the story because I had no visits but SIX reviews when I first uploaded the story! Thank you, than you, a MILIION times THANK YOU!!! I highly appreciate the reviews! Please forgive me for any grammar mistakes. If I were writing with my hand, there would be no problems. I'm not the best at typing and it takes me a while. I HATE it when chapters are so short and I try to give you guys the maximum I can give for a chapter. Anyway, I'm still a little insecure because I still feel like a newbie so…don't be too hard on me…even if I approve of bad reviews. Anyway, on with the story.

 

 

 

Bad Influence # Two: “Rule Bending.”

 

Inuyasha stared at her as the silence continued between the two of them. He raised his hand to cover Kagome's forehead, making her yelp in surprise.

 

“Are you sick or something?” He asked.

 

“No! Do you always get paranoid at someone's hospitality?” Kagome asked sarcastically. He gave her a quizzical stare before smirking.

 

“Well, no. You see, it's not often a girl I've just met, or have only officially known for five days, invites me to stay at her house over night. Well, not without any hidden objective anyway.”

 

Kagome blushed at whatever he was implying. She glared at him when he chuckled at her. “But, seriously,” Inuyasha said, still laughing a little, “aren't you a little untrusting? What kind of easy-blushing, Amazon, which I am sure you are, invites a guy to stay at her house while her parents are away?”

 

“ What! I'm not an Amazon! And I don't blush-easily!” She said, turning her face away to hide the redness in her cheeks.

 

“I'll take you up on your offer.”

 

“Huh?”

 

“ I think I'll stay the night. I don't want to walk through a storm to get to my apartment anyway.” He smirked at her.

 

“You'd better behave yourself.” Kagome warned.

 

“Relax! After what happened to you tonight, I doubt you'd want me to hit on you. Oh, one thing though.”

 

Kagome brought her brows together in confusion. What could he want now?

 

“Where am I going to sleep?”

 

She raised an eyebrow at him as if the question was self-explanatory. “On the couch. Where else?” she stated rather obviously. “I'll be right back.”

 

Inuyasha watched her with amusement as she turned to disappear into the hallways.

 

()()()()()()()()

 

`What am I doing?' Kagome thought to herself as she pulled extra bed sheets from the closet. `I invite some guy into my house while my parents are away and ask him to stay the night! He's right: how do I know he won't attack me in my sleep!' Her mind reeled. While her common sense told her it was dangerous to let someone who was practically a stranger to spend the night, her hospitable side told her it wasn't fair to let him walk home in a storm after he had saved her from being shot.

 

Kagome sighed. No matter what kind of jerk he was, she couldn't let walk home in a storm, where a number of things could happen. He kept her from being shot and maybe raped. The least she could do was offer him a place to stay until the storm passed.

 

Balancing the spare sheets and pillow in her arms, Kagome returned into the living room to see Inuyasha sitting on the couch, talking on a cell phone. When he saw Kagome in the corner of his eye, he finished his conversation and placed the phone in his pocket. Kagome walked up to where he was and set the bed sheets over the table.

 

“I don't know if I have anything you can wear as pajamas.” She said. “Maybe my grandpa has something in your size.”

 

Just as she was about to go check, she felt Inuyasha grab her wrist.

 

“Don't worry about it.”

 

“What do you intent to sleep in then?”

 

“Nothing.”

 

Kagome blushed again before he spoke one more time, “I'm kidding. I'll be fine. I don't like wearing pajamas. It makes me hot.”

 

Kagome didn't know if he meant hot like the temperature or the other way around. She nodded then began covering the couch in a sheet. Afterward, she placed the pillow and folded blanket over the sheet-covered couch. Once finished, she turned to see Inuyasha removing his shoes. She watched as he kicked off the sneakers, ignoring where they landed, and commenced to sit on the couch, removing his shirt and throwing it on the table.

 

“You're such a slob.” Kagome said. “Don't you even fold your clothes or put your shoes together?” She stared at the bundle of fabric on her table.

 

“Are you always this prissy?” He asked, raising his eyebrows. Kagome turned her head to reply, only to blush and turn her back to him.

 

“What's wrong?” Inuyasha asked, clearly confused by her sudden change. Wasn't she going to chew him out?

 

“N-nothing.” Kagome answered. The last thing she wanted Inuyasha to notice was how she stared at his slightly muscled, bare chest. Granted she had never seen a topless male before, she did think was natural for her to be a little embarrassed. She turned again and folded his shirt, ignoring his confused glance. After locking all the doors and turning off the lights, she began walking up the stairs to her own room.

 

“Oh, Inuyasha?” She called from the stairs.

 

“Hmm?” He looked up at her from the couch

 

“The bathroom is down the hall to your right. And if you try anything at night, I warn you, I keep a bat under my pillow!” She threatened.

 

“I'll keep that in mind.” He smirked before slumping on the couch. He heard Kagome's bedroom door slam shut before a small click showed him that she locked her door. With her out of the way, he removed his jeans, took his cell phone from the pocket, and crawled under the blanket of the couch. Lying on his back, he dialed the number of whom he had been talking to earlier, before Kagome came back into the room. The number failed.

 

“No service.” Inuyasha muttered. “It's probably the storm. I'll have to call Miroku tomorrow.” Placing the phone back into the pocket of his jeans, Inuyasha lay on the couch for a while before the pattering of the rain outside put him to sleep.

 

()()()()()()()()()

 

Kagome lay wide-awake in her bed. She couldn't believe that Inuyasha was sleeping downstairs! She could hear the rain splashing against her windows and she hid under the covers when she saw the flash from outside. Laying her head against the pillows, Kagome decided to go to sleep before another flash invaded her room.

 

 

The sound of a light drizzle reached her ears. Opening her eyes, Kagome could see the light coming into her room, though the sun was hidden behind a barrier of grey clouds. Pushing her blankets aside, Kagome looked at her time clock before her heart flipped.

 

()()()()()()()()()

 

“AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! I'M GOING TO BE LATE!!”

 

“Shit!” Inuyasha yelled as he covered his ears. He had jolted awake from the scream above him. Sitting up on the couch, he rubbed his eyes before the pattering of footsteps had him turn his attention to the girl who had run down the stairs and into the kitchen, frantically trying to heat up some toast.

 

Rising from the bed, ignoring his state of near nudity, he noticed Kagome was only wearing a towel and that her damp hair stuck to her wet back. “Why don't you skip breakfast if you are so late?” Inuyasha asked as he walked toward her. He saw her shoulders rise up from the sound of his voice, before her blushing face stared wide-eyed at him.

 

“Ahhh!!” Kagome yelled before she threw the first object she could at him, which had happened to be a plastic cup.

 

“Jerk! What are you doing here!” she yelled moving out of the kitchen while still throwing whatever she could get her hands on at him.

 

Inuyasha tried to dodge whatever came his way while trying to explain to the stubborn girl. “You asked me to stay the night, wench! Whoa!” He jumped as a plastic trash bin almost hit him in the face. Losing his patience, Inuyasha charged at the girl before she could throw another object in his direction. He knocked her into the wall, covering her mouth with his hand when she screamed, grabbing both of her hands with his free arm and pulling them above her head. When she tried to kick him to get herself free he crushed his body against hers to stop her movements.

 

Kagome's heart jumped into her throat. The only thing separating them was her towel and his boxers. What would someone say if they walked in on them! The heat of his body made her skin turn red. She looked at him, a glint of fear in her eyes. Inuyasha sighed. He hated the look on her face.

 

“When I move my hands, will you promise not to scream or give me a concussion?” He asked.

 

Blushing because of the intimate position she was in, Kagome shyly nodded. He removed his hands from her. “Inuyasha.”

 

“What?”

 

“ Can you move?” He stepped away from her.

 

“And can you put your clothes on! The last thing I want to see is you in your boxers!” She snapped before slapping him and running to get ready for school, her face red from his image.

 

“Hey, Kagome!” She stopped running up the stairs, one hand holding her towel while her flushed face looked at him.

 

“Any way I can help?”

 

“Yeah, you can take out my toast and fold your bed sheets.” She ran into her room without another word. A few minutes later, while Inuyasha was putting on his shoes, she ran downstairs in her school clothes, her duffel, and her backpack. She was huffing as she ran to gather her keys from the kitchen before stealing a glance at the clock. “Seven thirty! Oh, I'll have to run just to get to class on time!”

 

“Well, then you'd better start.” Inuyasha said.

 

The moment Kagome had locked her door, she and Inuyasha had begun bolting down the road toward school.

 

“Why are you running?” Kagome yelled as she sprinted across the intersections, light drizzle hitting her face.

 

“ You don't remember your deal?” Inuyasha panted.

 

“Oh, yeah. You'd better not go back on your word!”

 

“I won't!” He said as the two of them dashed into school. He separated from Kagome and saw her enter her class just as the final bell rang.

 

()()()()()()()()()()

 

Inuyasha came into the class two minutes late. He looked around and found a spare seat. Sitting down, he noticed the teacher was late, thanking his luck. A group of male students came to gather around his seat, snickering. “Hey, Taisho. You picked a bad day to come back to class.” A student said.

 

“Why's that?” Inuyasha replied nonchalantly as he put his feet up on the desk and leaned back in his chair.

 

“It just so happens we have a math test today. And you, with your horrible attendance, are most likely to fail.” Another student snickered. The boys in the school had begun to harbor a kind of animosity toward him, since he was the object of almost every girl's affection, although Inuyasha was used to this kind of resentment from other males.

 

“And I care because?” Inuyasha stated.

 

“It doesn't matter. You may be expelled from this school anyway.” They left him to take their seats. Taking his feet down from the desk, Inuyasha turned to see a female student behind him looking through her notes. He leaned and placed his hand over hers. The girl looked up and blushed ten shades of crimson.

 

“Hey, babe. Can I borrow your notes for a little while?”

 

The girl nodded shyly before handing her notebook to him.

 

“Thanks.” He turned before he made the girl faint.

 

“That won't help you, Taisho.” A student called. “Last minute cramming won't work if you weren't here for the two weeks to learn the material.”

 

Inuyasha ignored him, his eyes flitting from example to example as he turned the pages. The teacher came into the room the moment Inuyasha closed the book and returned it to the girl behind him. He winked at her as he handed the book and she blushed and said, “…You're welcome.”

 

“This is timed test.” The teacher began, her voice stern. “Once you are finished, you are free to leave the classroom or stay and look over your other work. You may begin the moment you receive your test. For those of you who are still cramming, put your work away.”

 

Once the test was seated on Inuyasha's desk, he asked the same girl for a spare pencil. Shaking, she gave him one and said he could keep it. Turning to the test, Inuyasha scanned the pages before beginning to solve the problems. The latter part of the class was silent, while some students were grunting from frustration as they rushed to erase their mistakes. Inuyasha flashed over the problems, his mind only focusing on the image of notes that filled his head. He passed through multiple problems before standing and walking toward the teacher's desk.

 

He could feel the other students' eyes on him as he walked to hand his exam to her. The teacher looked up at him from her book.

 

“Finished already, Inuyasha?”

 

“What can I say? It was an easy test.”

 

The woman looked at him suspiciously before taking his exam and dismissing him. As Inuyasha walked out of the room, he caught the eye of the girl whose notes he had borrowed. Before stepping out of the door he smiled devilishly at her.

 

He stepped out into the hallway and sat himself down against the wall before taking his phone out of the pocket of his jeans. He checked his messages to see that only one person had e-mailed him. “Heard you got fired again, Inuyasha. Think I might have a job for you. Meet me at five at the usual place. Miroku.” Inuyasha read aloud.

 

“Mr. Taisho!” Inuyasha blinked for a moment before looking up at the towering figure of the school principal. The man stood there in his disciplinary debonair, watching him with disappointment.

 

“Could you have yelled any louder, Mr. Tanaka?” Inuyasha replied rather boringly, unfazed by the educator's angry visage.

 

“Don't' give me any of your sarcasm, boy.” Mr. Tanaka began, calming himself down. “What are you doing out in the hallway?”

 

“Well, I have a ways to wait before my next class, and, since I am done with my test, I have nothing better to do in this class.”

 

The teacher looked at him in skepticism. “Hand me your phone, Mr. Taisho. You should know fairly well that cell phones should not be seen on the premises besides during lunch or after school.”

 

Inuyasha sighed, knowing that he was defeated with the formality of rules. Any further argument on his part would only result in complications for himself, a fact he had learned the hard way after so many years with his brother. He handed the razor phone into the principal's outstretched hand.

 

“I would like a word with you since you seem to have nothing to do in your class.” Mr. Tanaka stated as he pocketed Inuyasha's phone. Sighing, Inuyasha followed the tall, thin, middle-aged man into his office.

 

“What's this about Mr. Tanaka?” Inuyasha asked in irritation while placing his feet up on the principal's desk.

 

“Put your feet down, Taisho.” Inuyasha grumbled and removed his feet.

 

“I would like to address your terrible attendance. Two weeks into the school year and you are hardly ever seen in class. Yet, you manage to turn all your work in on time and only appear for the days that have testing. I don't understand you.”

“What's the stupid point of coming to class if I already have enough credits to graduate. I do all my work and pass all of my tests anyway. So what's the point of being here when I already make sure to do everything if I was here?” Inuyasha asked, his annoyance rising.

 

“You can only miss a certain number of days. I might even have to expel you.”

 

“If you do that, then the school board will wonder why you kicked out the student with the best entrance exam score and also a student who sends in all his work.”

 

“You are indeed smarter than you look. If only you put your skills to better use.”

 

“I'm not an idiot. I'm sure that you can bend the rules a little, can't you?” Inuyasha asked.

 

“Since you have the required number of credits to graduate, I suppose I can take away two classes from your school day. And I expect you to come to school more often! At least, three days a week. Take it or leave it.” Mr. Tanaka offered.

 

“Deal.” He was already planning on coming to school more often because of his agreement with Kagome.

 

“So, I'll take away your two elective classes at the end of the day.” The principal said.

 

“Uh, Tanaka-san?” Inuyasha began.

 

“No you may not have your phone back. If you want it back, your parents will have to come and de-confiscate it.” Mr. Tanaka said before dismissing Inuyasha. Huffing, Inuyasha left the office.

 

()()()()()()()()

 

“If possible, I think you've gotten faster Kagome-san.” The coach said as she stopped the timer when Kagome crossed the finish line.

 

“Thank…you…Hatari-sensei.” Kagome breathed between pants, while sweat fell between the fabric of her running uniform. The white t-shirt and blue shorts clung to her. It was the rush of practice that kept Kagome practicing everyday. She loved being fast; having the air hit her face. She ran as fast as her feet could carry. It was that feeling that made her wistful for after school, for practice.

 

“If you keep this up, we would win our first track meet without a sweat.” The coach said.

 

“I think I'll be the one sweating, Hatari-sensei.” Kagome laughed.

 

“Your right.” The coach chuckled. “If only you could teach some other members on the male track team to run faster.” She laughed before turning her attention to the other runners on the team. “That's enough practice for today. Make sure you keep up with your daily laps.” The coach said as she turned to go speak with the boys' track team coach.

 

It had been cloudy all day, with a light drizzle here and there. Kagome didn't know why her coaches had sometimes let them run through the rain. But practice was practice, she guessed.

 

Kagome huffed before gathering her duffle. To her amazement, the school day had gone faster. It was most likely because she had finished all her work for the week. She was thankful that her family was out of the house. She was able to catch up with all her work and still have time to attend to her duties as track captain and student council vise president.

 

“You're amazing Kagome-chan. Some of us may be fast, but we're nothing compared to you.” A girl in track came toward Kagome.

 

“Well, I try.” Kagome said before heading off to the locker room to change clothes. She was shocked to know that Inuyasha had kept his word. She had seen him in her class, lazily watching the teacher. He was in school the whole day, and didn't look too happy about it. She kept seeing him walk about school with his hands in his pockets, while some girls secretly chased him around. He was the still object of affection from the girls and resentment for most of the boys even though some of the male, student body admired him.

 

Changing into her normal wear, which consisted of her green shirt and jeans, Kagome exited the locker room to see Sango waiting for her. As the two of them began walking home, someone tapped on Kagome's shoulder. She turned to face Inuyasha.

 

“Can I talk to you?” He asked.

 

“Sango, you go on ahead.” Kagome gestured as Sango nodded and started walking home, but not before throwing a warning look in Inuyasha's direction.

 

“What is it Inuyasha?” Kagome asked when Sango was out of sight.

 

“ Let's just say, I need your help in getting something back.” He stated.

 

“ What do you mean?” Kagome eyed him skeptically.

 

“Your ass of a principal took away my phone. Maybe you can help me get it back.”

 

“And what makes you think I'll help you break the rules!” Kagome exclaimed. The nerve of this guy! Was it in his nature to break every rule in the book?

 

“Look, my life is on that phone! If I lose it, it would be another excuse for my old man to make me move home. I'd rather rot in hell that go back there and live in the same fucking house as that prissy, bastard brother of mine!”

 

“ I don't care! Maybe living with your family would teach you some manners! I'm not helping you!” Kagome said, turning her back to him and crossing her arms.

 

Inuyasha smirked at her. “Fine, then I'll just tell the principal about your little deal.”

 

“You wouldn't dare.” Kagome grew agitated, as she swung around to look at him.

 

Inuyasha leaned, closing the small space between them, making his breath puff against her skin. “Try me.” He whispered huskily.

 

Kagome blushed, partially from his impudence, partially from how close he was. Turning her face away, she huffed, “Fine. Just keep your dirty mouth shut!”

 

Drawing back from her, victorious, Inuyasha grinned before turning. One thing he was really good at was winning battles. “You're an anarchist, Inuyasha.” He heard Kagome call from behind him.

 

“Actually,” Inuyasha began, as he looked at her from over his shoulder, “I prefer to think of it as `bending the rules' since I'm not really taking back my phone.”

 

She followed him into the administrations office, where they stood outside the door.

 

“So how am I supposed to help you?” Kagome asked, sardonic.

 

“All I need you to do is keep that bastard of a principal busy. Just distract him.” Inuyasha stated as he began walking away.

 

“And how am I supposed to do that!” Kagome yelled.

 

“ Make something up!” He called over his shoulder.

 

Kagome huffed as he exited the hallway. Nervously, she opened door to the administration's office and greeted the receptionist. “May I speak with Tanaka-sensei? Please?” Kagome asked politely, trying to make her voice sound steady.

 

The receptionist nodded before calling out the principal. As Mr. Tanaka came into the room, with the door to his office slightly ajar, Kagome saw Inuyasha push up the window to the principal's office and sneak inside.

 

“What is it Ms. Higurashi?” Mr. Tanaka asked.

 

“T-tanaka-sensei, I w-wanted to talk to you about the track teams uniforms.” She began cautiously as she saw Inuyasha open drawers of the principal's bookcase behind him, carefully trying not to make a sound. Mr. Tanaka tilted his head to the side.

 

“Ms. Higurashi, what's wrong with your current uniforms. And shouldn't your coach speak to me on this matter?”

 

“Well, I didn't want to worry Hatari-sensei, so I haven't told her about the uniforms' problems. I…don't want to worry her about something so small. She, uh, seems to have her own problems as it is.” Kagome watched as Inuyasha began searching through the desks.

 

“What's wrong with the uniforms then?”

 

“Well…umm…to be honest, they are very uncomfortable. Since the fabric is cotton, it provides a lot of friction while running…and…uh…” Kagome watched as Inuyasha pulled out his phone from a drawer, removed the battery, took out the phone's chip, pocketed it, placed the battery back into the phone, put the phone back where he found it, and snuck out of the room through window he came from. He winked at her before disappearing out of the window.

 

“Ms. Higurashi?” Tanaka's voice came to her ears, snapping her focus back to him.

 

“Uh…maybe your right, Tanaka-sensei. I guess I'm not the right person to talk to about this. It is true that some of the girls on the track team find the material on the uniforms itchy and un-breathable. In my opinion, I would like to get uniforms that are more polyester. But…I…uh think you're right. I'll tell Hatari-sensei about the uniforms. I'm sorry for bothering you.”

 

“Think nothing of it. I'll speak to your coach after you tell her your worries.” Tanaka smiled.

 

“Thank you, Tanaka-san.” Kagome bowed and ran from the room.

 

The principal returned to his office. “I could've sworn that window was closed.”

 

()()()()()()()()

 

“I owe you one, Kagome.” Inuyasha said as he saw Kagome run out of the school through the light drizzle. Thinking that he had someone to meet, Inuyasha walked toward his old job to pick up his car. He drove to his apartment and picked up his spare phone. With the chip in the phone, Inuyasha left his apartment to meet his friend at the usual place.

 

“Trust you to pick a bar for a meeting, Miroku.” Inuyasha stated as he entered the dimly lighted room.

 

“ Good to see you, Inuyasha. Want something?” Inuyasha stared at his long-term friend. Miroku hadn't changed in the three months that Inuyasha hadn't seen him. His eyes were a dark blue, while his hair was kept short. His benevolent looking face sometimes hid his notorious lechery or sometimes-sneaky nature.

 

“ No thanks, I'm driving.” Inuyasha stated as he took a seat next to Miroku at the counter of the bar.

 

“Jus curious, how did you lose your last job anyway?”

 

“I was placing the food some customers ordered on their table when I see some pedophile man-handle some kid. She didn't look too comfortable. So I punched the guy in the nose. The kid's mother thanked me, but that asshole told my boss how `disrespectful' his waiters were. So I got fired, even when the girl's mother told my boss what happened.”

 

“You shouldn't get fired for that.” Miroku grunted, outraged by the circumstances.

 

“So, let's get to the point. What's your job offer?” Inuyasha asked.

 

“ Straight to the point, as usual, you never change.” Miroku said. “ To be blunt, my friend Muslin needs someone who can work as a receptionist. You know, usual things like typing up papers, scheduling clients, and receiving calls. It's a pretty decent job.”

 

“ I can only work part time. I have to go to school, you know. You're lucky you're a year older. What I wouldn't give to be done with school already!”

 

“I'll talk to Muslin about it. So you still don't plan on moving home?”

“ Not until my brother gets a fucking place of his own. I'll see you later. Let me know if I get accepted.” Inuyasha rose to exit the bar.

 

()()()()()()()()()

 

Kagome heaved when she entered her house. `I can't believe I did that!' She jumped when she heard her phone ring.

 

“Hello?” Kagome said into the receiver.

 

“Kagome! It's Sango. So, tell me what happened with Inuyasha!”

 

“Uh…He just wanted help finding something?”

 

“So why did he just want YOU to help him. Hmm?” Sango mocked.

 

“Sango!” Kagome yelled into the receiver.

 

“ I'm right outside.” Sango's voice came from the door.

 

Putting down the receiver, Kagome went to answer the front door and let Sango in. Her best friend walked in, patting her coat to get out a few raindrops, and looked around before turning her attention to Kagome. “So you really are home alone for three weeks.” Sango turned to Kagome with such an intense expression, that the more petite girl flinched.

 

“Spill it, Kagome! I know there is something up between you two.” Sango accused.

 

“Between who?” Kagome asked.

 

“Between you and Inuyasha! I know you have some kind of deal with him!”

 

Not wanting to be secretive, and there was the fact that she couldn't keep something hidden from Sango for long, Kagome sat her friend down before telling her everything. She explained about how Inuyasha helped her, how she repaid him, and the deal they made.

 

“So that's what's going on…too bad, I thought you might have found someone who can match you.”

 

“What do you mean?” Kagome asked sharply.

 

“Never mind, Kagome. Hey, do you like him?”

 

“What? No way, he's-”

 

“Whatever. I know he likes you.”

 

“Yeah, right. I want evidence.”

 

“Call it a hunch, Kagome.” Sango said, resting back on the couch. “Anyway, the real reason I came here today was to see if you were okay. I know it can get pretty boring staying home alone. Especially after what happened to your dad.”

 

Kagome smiled at her exuberant friend. Sango had a sense of when Kagome needed her. She knew that Kagome wouldn't want to stay alone for too long. She also knew that Kagome was having a difficult time dealing with her father's death. It was Sango that Kagome had run too after she heard about the accident that killed him. And it was Sango that was there whenever Kagome was feeling lonely.

 

“ Got any spare pajamas? I don't want to sleep in my wet clothes.” Sango asked.

 

It was then that Kagome noticed how powerful the rain was outside. There was no way she could go for her laps in that storm. Deciding that a good cup of tea would distract the two of them from the downpour, Kagome gathered a pair of nightclothes that would be suitable for her friend's physique before warming the kettle. She came out of the kitchen, holding a pair of warm mugs with ginseng tea and sitting next to Sango on the rug.

 

“Thank you.” Sango said as she took her tea from Kagome.

 

The two of them sat up late talking and laughing as the storm raged outside. Before long, Sango had fallen asleep on the couch while Kagome listened to the rain outside. She listened to make sure Sango was sleeping before grabbing an umbrella and heading out.

 

The wind was whipping against the ancient tree next to the shrine Kagome's family lived in. She stood there in front of the one thousand year old tree. Somehow being near this old oak made her feel calm and peaceful. She was grateful for the tree's existence, for the untamed tranquility that only this tree could offer. It was tough on her. The day she heard that her father had been killed in a car accident, she had come to hide under this tree.

 

Kagome remember swearing that she would never forgive unsafe drivers. That's when her thoughts had shifted to Inuyasha. Why couldn't she stop thinking about him!! Cursing herself for being drawn to him in ways she didn't understand, Kagome pondered to herself, why she couldn't hate him after he nearly smothered her the same way her father had died. Sighing, Kagome turned to re-enter her home when the sound of a car passing by caught her attention.

 

She turned to see a plastic bag under the ancient tree. `Strange, why didn't I see that bag before?' Kagome walked up to the bag and picked it up. Inside, there was a box. She went back to her house and, sitting on a chair in the kitchen, pulled the box out of the bag. On the top, it read, “For Kagome.”

 

Wondering who would send her something, Kagome lifted the lid to see a sealed letter sitting on the paper wrapping of whatever was underneath. Opening the paper wrapping, Kagome gasped and pulled out a pair of Women's Gel-Kayano XII running shoes. She ripped open the letter after placing the brand new top-ranking shoes on her table.

 

Hey. A friend of mine told me that runners have to change their shoes every three hundred to five hundred miles. Think of this as my way of saying thanks for helping me get my phone back. Sorry for blackmailing you. I heard these were one of the most top ranking shoes for runners. Well, for girls anyways. I didn't know your size, so I took a guess. Your feet looked small so I got about a size six and a half. If they don't fit, the receipt is there. I don't really know if you have to bring your own shoes for track or if your team gives you them. Anyway, hope you like `em.

Inuyasha

 

Kagome blushed again. How did Inuyasha manage to buy these when he could barely feed himself sometimes? She decided he wasn't such a bad guy after all. He may have nothing but disrespect for all the rules, he may be rude and impulsive, but he did help her when she needed help and he was there at school like he promised he would be.

 

“ You're so weird, Inuyasha.” Kagome mumbled. She blinked when she noticed something else written in the letter.

 

I'll take that as a complement.

 

()()()()()()()()

 

“Fuck!” Inuyasha said as he fell out of bed, looking at his phone. Seven sixteen, he was way passed late and didn't need a round of detention if he was going to get to work on time on his first day. Miroku had called him an hour after their meeting, telling him that he got the job and he could start the next day at four.

 

Running around his small apartment, struggling to pull on some jeans and find his car keys at the same time, Inuyasha growled while trying to gather his things for work. He bolted from the apartment after locking the door.

 

Seconds after he clicked his seatbelt into place, Inuyasha drove down the street, cursing as he rushed passed morning traffic and finally parked a block off from school. He sprinted from the Lexus after locking it, rushed into school, jumped the stairs that led to his class and jumped into his seat seconds before the bell rang. The other students looked at him in shock as he composed himself moments after suddenly flashing into the room. Even the teacher herself was surprised and told him she didn't know he cared about tardiness. Inuyasha just huffed.

 

“Hey, you run pretty fast.” A student said when the class was given free time to study. Inuyasha, of course, had taken that time to sleep, so he looked at the student drowsily.

 

“What of it?” Inuyasha asked.

 

“ I heard you were able to keep up with Higurashi-san. Maybe you should join our track team.” The student asked, his eyes looking hopeful.

 

“Sorry,” Inuyasha said, leaning back and putting his feet on his desk, “I don't have time for track.”

 

“Come on. What could you possibly do outside of school?”

 

“My job. Now get lost.” Inuyasha growled in warning. The boy retreated, shaking his head to at his peers, who were disappointed that he didn't get Inuyasha to join their team.

 

The day progressed even quicker as Inuyasha decided to laze through most of his classes. The teachers found it amazing that half the time he didn't seem to be paying attention, but was able to answer any question thrown his way. Even his math teacher was amazed that he passed his test from the day before with a perfect score and he wasn't even there when she taught the material to the class. The students asked him how he was able to know everything when he didn't study, didn't take notes, or was absent. Inuyasha just huffed and ignored their questions.

 

`Fucking teachers, putting me on the spot.' Inuyasha thought to himself as he walked through the halls, with his hands in his pockets, during free period. `I'm not a genius and I'm not an idiot!' He never studied, just crammed for a few seconds before each class. If it weren't for his powerful memory, he wouldn't get the high grades he did. Not to mention, his father would invite him home if he didn't get the intended grades from school.

 

The sound of a grunt brought him out of his aggravated thoughts. He watched as a girl in front of him struggled to carry a stack of textbooks through the hallways. The books were stacked higher than her head, and the girl swayed from side to side as she toiled to walk with the books in hand.

 

“Hey, need a hand?” He asked, walking up to the girl.

 

“No, thank you, I got it…huh, Inuyasha?” Inuyasha peeked behind the books to see Kagome fight against the books weight.

 

“ Well, well, we meet again?” He said as he picked up half of her load and carried them with the palm of one hand next to his head.

 

“I said I could handle it myself.” Kagome mumbled.

 

“Like you weren't going to tumble at any moment. So, where to?” He asked.

 

“Just to the textbook room.”

 

The walk was silent between them until Kagome decided to speak. “Um, thank you for the shoes.”

 

“Oh yeah. I hope they were the right size.”

 

“They are. Actually, it's a perfect fit.” Kagome blushed.

 

“ I wanted to say thanks for helping me get my phone chip back. I didn't mean to blackmail you. I wasn't going to tell anyone about our deal.”

 

“Oh really. Actually, I was surprised that you stayed true to your word and came to school.”

 

“Hey! I'm not that low!”

 

The textbook clerk was pleased with her books when Inuyasha and Kagome delivered them. Shortly after dropping off the books, Inuyasha walked with Kagome back to her class.

 

“ Damn.” He groaned.

 

“What?” Kagome looked at him inquisitively.

 

“What I wouldn't give for a smoke right about now.”

 

“Hey! Remember you can't smoke here!”

 

“You had to put a lid on everything, didn't you. I'll see you later.”

 

“Where are you going?”

 

“ To work.” He called over his shoulder as he walked away.

 

“What! There are still two classes left!”

 

“ You said, I would have to come to school at least three days a week. You never said anything about leaving early. Besides, let's just say I don't have to go to those two classes.” Inuyasha said before disappearing from the hall.

 

Kagome sighed as she saw him leave. `You're so weird.' Yet she couldn't get him out of her thoughts.

 

 

 

 

Thank GOD!!! I'm done!! You can't believe all the editing I had to do for this chapter! And how did I manage to write this with all the work I have to do I'll never know!! Any way PWEAAAAAASE PWEASEEE REVIEW! I WORKED REALLY HARD!! I HOPE I LIKED IT!! Otherwise my confidence will diminish to nothingness.