InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Bad Influences ❯ bad Influence #Fifteen: Putting Things Off ( Chapter 15 )

FIFTEEN YES! My favorite number! ^_^ Moving on. My Sis Birthday was this month and it was her fifteenth! Ironic, isn't it.

 

I had to rack my brain for the witty banter in this one.

 

Anyway, that last's chapter's reviews, excluding that of OLDDOG333, were not so good…I was so upset that I had no idea how I was going to write the next chapter.

 

I only have one request. I already know that you like the story, otherwise why would you bother with it. Please, PLEASE, if you review don't write, “I love this story/chapter, can't wait for the next one” or something of that extent. I want to know WHAT you liked. I hate to say this, but it's really down-hearting sometimes that I don't get opinions and just “update soon,” or “I love it,” or “great chapter.” I don't want to discourage you from reviewing, but it's very upsetting for me. Thank you.

 

 

 

 

Bad Influence # Fifteen: Putting Things Off

 

“I still don't know why you bother with that stuff.” Satoshi sighed as Inuyasha breathed out a puff of smoke.

 

“It helps me calm down.” Inuyasha answered, placing the used cigarette into the ashtray. He stared out through the window onto the street as cars flashed by. A waitress came by, placing a mug of hot coffee in front of them. Thanking her, Inuyasha turned to the drink.

 

“You should really consider quitting.” Miroku spoke as Inuyasha drank.

 

“You should. I did.” Satoshi waved his hand to Miroku agreeably.

 

“Yeah but now you are addicted to booze.” Inuyasha countered.

 

“Whatever. Are you feeling any better?” Satoshi gave him a slightly nervous glance.

 

“Much. I'm glad that Kaede was the only one in the house. If my old man were home, I'd be living with my family again. Arisa still insists that I stay with them.” He caught the scrutinizing look that Satoshi was giving him and spat.

 

“What?”

 

“Are you sure you're all right? Kaede said you looked pretty bad this time.” He sighed.

 

“What made you go to the hospital anyway?” Miroku asked.

 

Inuyasha stayed quiet for a moment, remembering his real reason. Poor kid, he thought. That nurse had looked at him like he had a heart attack when he had given her Kagome's information. It was a good thing he had gotten out of there quickly, he reflected, otherwise he would have broken down. After continuous silence from Inuyasha, Satoshi and Miroku sighed, saying, “Fine, it doesn't matter.”

 

“Are you positive you're okay?” Satoshi insisted.

 

“I'm fine.” Inuyasha said tiredly, bringing the cup to his lips. “Don't go censuring yourself on my account.”

 

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

 

“Hey, did you hear about what happened to Higurashi?”

 

“What?”

 

“I heard her little brother was in a car accident. He's in a coma.”

 

“Was that what the big emergency was about a few days ago?”

 

“That's terrible.”

 

Kagome paid no attention to the whisperings of student council. She guessed that the girl who told her to go to the principal's office had overheard and was ecstatic to report new gossip. Now that her “scandal” with the Inuyasha had ended, by the school “badass” himself, the girls were just itching to have something new to speak about. Frankly, Kagome wondered if it was some unfortunate twist of fate that she was the subject material again.

 

For once, Kagome did not feel too interested in student council happenings, or in school business at all. She wasn't running as fast, nor was she committing herself to studying for finals. It wasn't like her, but she couldn't concentrate. Right about now her mother would be in the hospital waiting for Souta to wake up. Even though it had only been a few days, she was still uneasy. The doctors said that it would be a little while before he woke up, yet Kagome still felt scared. It had been the same for her father, the waiting, the hoping.

 

It hadn't been a good day at all. Her coach had given her leave until she sorted out her problems, which cut her out of the last meet of the semester also. Her teachers, worried for her wellbeing, told her to take it easy when she couldn't answer questions and or pay attention. Several of the girls in the school, who had joined in the past rumors, had come up to her muttering sympathies. Even Yoko came up to Kagome, apologizing for everything she had done. Kagome didn't want to talk about it. Eventually, she hid on the school roof to sort her thoughts.

 

All this pity was making her feel worse. It was as though everyone thought she was mourning. How irritating it had been to walk through the hallways, receiving remorseful looks and whispers as she passed. I didn't help her mental nervousness when people said, “I'm sorry about your kid brother.” A constant reminder, the sorrowful atmosphere gave her a headache.

 

To top her stress off, Inuyasha hadn't kept his promise. He had avoided school for a little while. Perhaps she intimidated him, but she didn't care. When he arrived in class earlier that day, she didn't spare him a word, too caught up with her anxiety. She knew she would have to “officially” tell him that the deal was off sometime, but she was really reluctant to do so. She didn't need any more drama.

 

She hadn't said anything to him and he didn't reply or bother to speak to her. She guessed that he heard the news, because there was a sorry gleam in his eye that was stronger then any guilt he would feel for breaking their agreement. The last person she wanted condolence from was Inuyasha.

 

“Kagome?” She looked up and about the student council room. Several of the members were sending her looks from the corners of their eyes; others were busy with plans for the end of semester celebration. She hadn't been in her element today; her thoughts were centered on that one room in the hospital. Tatsuya had told the council members off when they complained about her lack of contribution. Despite the fact that it was an act of pity, she was still grateful to him for doing so.

 

“Kagome? Are you ignoring me?” Kagome breathed in and finally answered Sango.

 

“I'm sorry, Sango, I'm just not feeling into this today.” She responded, looking down at her hands as they sat at the table. She leaned on her upper arms.

 

She felt Sango place a warm hand on her shoulder. “ Why don't you take a break? Go up to the school roof and cool your head.”

 

Kagome peeked at her weak smile. “What about…”

 

“Leave them to me. Get out of here.”

 

Thanking her, Kagome stood and made her way toward the door with her head downcast. She walked through the halls, turning at the stairs to head into the roof, but stopped. There was one place she wanted to be and this wasn't it. She turned, and began running, jumping over the stairs and rushing out of the main building. She ran straight into the field, glad to see it was deserted.

 

The coach said that maybe track wouldn't help her with her problems. She couldn't have been more wrong. Kagome wanted to run. She needed to run.

 

Strolling, breathing slowly, by the running ground, Kagome paused and watched the empty track. She bent low and tied the laces on her shoes before breaking into a sprint. The air rushed through her and her feet protested in the small shoes bit she paid no mind. She wanted to run and keep running; feeling that same exhilaration she used to feel when ran alongside her father. She wanted to rush through in such a speed that her ears would buzz and her feet would feel as though they never touched the ground. It was almost like flying, but it didn't help her this time. No matter how fast she was running, it did not take away her worrying, the very thing she was fleeing.

 

She stopped, bending forward on her knees, panting heavily. Her muscles twitched irritably and she forced herself to stand, looking longingly at the rest of the track as it beckoned to her, offering the strange comfort she usually sought. She prepared for another rush, panting deeply.

 

Kagome wheezed, her leg muscles flexing, her mind reeling, and her spirits raging. She whizzed past the field till everything around her was a blur, till the world didn't “be” anymore. There was only her field. Just like Dad, she thought. Noting else existed.

 

Except for the person had just walked out into the field in front of her! Kagome stamped her feet into the ground, trying to slow herself down with each step, but, as she came closer to whoever was in her way, her agility stayed constant. She pounded her leg into the dirt, skidding to a stop and falling to her knees, gasping for air.

 

“Are you all right?”

 

Kagome cursed that voice. “I…would be…if y-you…hadn't gotten in my w-way!” She puffed, standing wobbly to her feet and glaring at him before strutting past, her eyes intend on the field.

 

“Why are you torturing yourself?” Just as she was about to speed up, Kagome stopped, turning to the owner of that voice.

 

“I'm…not torturing myself…” She panted, watching him as he walked up to her.

 

Inuyasha rolled his eyes. Kagome didn't feel much like talking to him. She had avoided him the entire day, too downhearted to confront him, but she knew that it would be inevitable: she would have to scorn him.

 

“Right, you're not killing yourself while running nonstop without oxygen.” He said, mirthlessly sarcastic.

 

“I'm not really in the mood, right now.” Kagome huffed when she caught her breath. “If this is about our deal, you know that it's off. You missed three days of school, so we're done, you can go.” She turned, facing the track.

 

She didn't move, waiting for him to leave before she could go for another lap. The minutes ran by and she didn't hear him take steps to go. Tapping her foot, Kagome waiting while trying her best not to yell. When he lingered, Kagome whirled to face him.

 

“You're still here?” She grumbled. He didn't reply, his face devoid of emotion, till be breathed in and said, “I…heard about your brother.” Kagome cringed. That was the last thing she wanted to hear.

 

“So you did.” She huffed.

 

“I can't really offer you anything that would make you feel better.”

 

“Good, because I've had it up to here with `Hey, I'm sorry about what happened to your kid brother.'” She gestured to her shoulder. She faced the track once more. “If you're done, you can go. I really want to be left alone.”

 

She prepared to run again, not caring if he was in her path. She readied herself, eyes the field with an intensity no one in her team could match. She brought her leg forward to begin and was pulled backward by the warmth that caught her wrist. She jerked and almost lost her balance as she turned to snarl at him.

 

“What?” Her patience was wearing thin as he let go of her hand.

 

“About the deal…” He began.

 

“I told you, you broke it, it's done.” Kagome repeated.

 

Inuyasha didn't reply at first. He scowled for a moment then closed his eyes as though he were truly remorseful for not living up to his agreement with her. Then he opened his eyes and, without looking at her said, “Sorry.”

 

Kagome was taken aback. “Sorry?”

 

He sighed out of irritation. “I'm sorry I broke our deal, all right.” Kagome gave him a wide-eyed expression. “What's with the look?” He narrowed his eyes.

 

“I thought you'd get all defensive, not apologize.” Kagome said, softly, her voice carrying a socked undertone.

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“I thought you'd say that it wasn't your fault. You know, make excuses.”

 

Inuyasha clicked his teeth, sending her a partly hurt, but mostly annoyed look. “Glad to know that's how low you think of me.” He crossed his arms and glared at her. Kagome could see him working to calm himself down when he next approached her. “Hey, can we just start over or something. As friends?”

 

Kagome tilted her head to the side, a slight smile forming on her lips. “Friends huh? I'd like that. Hope it'd be a better start then you almost squashing me on the road.”

 

Inuyasha pointed at her accusingly. “You were running across a red light! Are you ever going to let that go?” He growled.

 

Kagome laughed. His reactions to that one incident were always priceless. “No. Like you're not going to let it go either.”

 

Inuyasha smirked. “Maybe I should have crushed you. At least then I wouldn't have to deal with this lifetime grudge.”

 

The color drained from Kagome's face. “Oh, you jerk-face! I'm not the one holding the grudge here, you are!”

 

“You were the one that brought the damn thing up!”

 

“I was joking! You didn't have to get so defensive!”

 

“Me, defensive? Look who's talking.”

 

“You.” Kagome said with a sly smile. Inuyasha clenched his jaw out of frustration. “Aw fuck.” He growled.

 

“What, out of comebacks? I win again.” Kagome laughed.

 

“No you didn't.” Inuyasha said sharply, redness glowing his cheeks.

 

“I did and you know it. You're just too proud to admit it. I beat you the last time we argued about our little car accident too.” She poked him playfully in the shoulder.

 

Inuyasha's growl only grew in its volume. He swung his arm away from her tiny stabbing sensation. “Knock it off!”

 

“Need I remind you that if I had gotten hurt that day, I would also be the one winning the court case? I should be a lawyer.” Kagome giggled.

 

“Shut up.” Inuyasha grumbled.

 

Kagome was beginning to see the enjoyment in being friends. Deal or no deal, she would miss arguing with him, or, more importantly, getting on his nerves. She looked at him smugly. “Admit that I won.”

 

Inuyasha puffed up with defiance. “No way in hell.”

 

“Did I hurt that little bubble of pride?” Kagome bit her tongue.

 

“All right, all right, you beat me. Will you stop gloating?”

 

“I wasn't gloating.” Kagome clasped her hands in front of her innocently.

 

“Bullshit, Kagome. You were so gloating. Wait a minute.” He gave her a long, inspecting stare. “Since when do you get off making fun of me? It's usually the other way around.”

 

“Well, I'm a fast learner.” Kagome nodded.

 

“What's that supposed to mean?”

“It means that I, Kagome, the student, has surpassed the master.” Kagome stood tall, pointing to herself in mocking dignity.

 

Inuyasha laughed, throwing his head back. “You surpass me? In sarcasm? Are you kidding?”

 

“Is it that unbelievable? I can be sarcastic.” Kagome pouted. Inuyasha responded with a louder chuckle. Biting her lower lip, Kagome resisted the urge to hit him and wipe that look off his face.

 

“Yeah right, how can you exceed me when you were the one that felt bad when I was making fun of…what's his name again, Tetsuyo, Tatsu…” He cupped his chin, muttering under his breath. Kagome raised a brow and, just as he was in mid sentence, corrected him.

 

“It's Tatsuya!”

 

“Yeah, that guy.” Inuyasha snapped his fingers as though he were having a real revelation.

 

“You know, I wonder if you're ever going to learn his name. It makes me wonder how long it took you to remember my name.” Kagome shrugged, shaking her head.

 

“I make it a point not to bother learning the names of people I don't care about.” He countered.

 

“Yeah nice policy.” Kagome took a peek at her watch. She didn't feel much like returning back to the student council room. Several of the members had complained that they could get along better without her moping about anyway. There was no practice today and, even if there was, she was given temporary leave. She might as well go get her things and go home.

 

“I guess I should leave.” She looked up at Inuyasha.

 

“Yeah…maybe you should. I've got to get to work anyway.” He gestured to the road beyond the field.

 

Kagome fixed her disheveled clothes, dusting off her legs. Maybe it wasn't a good idea to run on the track field in her everyday outfits. She pushed her hair back down and looked back up at him, stretching out her hand. “So, we let bygones be bygones? Friends?”

 

Inuyasha nodded, taking her hand. “Yeah, friends.”

 

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

 

Kagome replaced the flowers next to her brother's bed with the fresh ones she had picked from her mother's garden. Two days, and he was still asleep. She hoped he would wake up. She placed a warm hand on his as it rested against the bed, over the blankets that covered him, a long cord extending from his inner elbow. A couple days ago he had been blushing for making Inuyasha stumble over his soccer ball and now he was unmoving.

 

“You're still here?” A nurse said as she walked into the room. She came by Souta, looking at his monitor for a brief moment before coming to stand by Kagome's chair.

 

“Shouldn't you be getting home soon?” The nurse asked.

 

“I want to stay a little longer. I'm sorry if I'm bothering you.” Kagome answered, her eyes still on Souta's face.

 

The nurse walked past her, looking at the flowers Kagome had placed by the bed. “I'll let you know when visiting time is over. Be careful on your way back home, it's getting dark.”

 

Thanking her, Kagome listened as the nurse exited the room. Her eyes trailed from Souta's calm, bandaged face to the monitor. She found herself staring at it for long moments, wondering. How long would it take for Souta to wake up? The doctors said that it was normal for him to sleep, but she wished he would open his eyes.

 

Several seconds, minutes, she wasn't sure how long it really was, afterward, the nurse reentered the room, placing a warm hand on Kagome's shoulder and telling her that visiting hours were over. Nodding, Kagome silently swing her bag over her shoulder and bowed to the nurse as she exited the room. She made her way down to the lobby of the hospital, caught up in her own thoughts.

 

The city was lively, but all Kagome saw was streetlights and cars speed by as she made her way home. She should be studying, or at least trying. Finals were in less then two weeks now, but she was spending more and more time at the hospital. Kagome looked up toward her house.

 

As she made her way up the steps, Grandpa came her way, his hands crossed. “There you are. I was beginning to worry.”

 

“Sorry Grandpa.” Kagome said solemnly.

 

“Where have you been?” He asked, softly this time.

 

“To see Souta.” Any trace of anger disappeared from Grandpa's face. “You don't have to go everyday. They will tell us when he wakes up.” He offered soothingly.

 

Kagome nodded. “Yeah. I'd better get to studying.”

 

Kagome walked past him, patting him affectionately on the shoulder to show her appreciation for his concern. She walked into the house, taking off her shoes. Her mother gave her a brief hello and handed her a warm cup of tea before walking off into the living room. Kagome, taking a sip, set her things down and made her way to her room.

 

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

 

“You officially suck at math.” Inuyasha threw his arms up in exasperation.

 

“Well excuse me for not having a memory chip in my brain like you do.” Kagome countered, the pencil in her hands tapping the paper lightly.

 

Inuyasha pointed to her notes saying, “You should really try to memorize the unit circle. It would help you with this.”

 

Kagome sighed. Having Inuyasha at a friend wasn't as terrible as she had imagined it would be. For the most part, she still had to keep him awake during school hours, but their relationship was a lot better then just exchanging several words in class. Since it was finals time, and Kagome spending more time in the hospital then studying, she had asked him to help her try and comprehend the math reviews that she had neglected to re-learn.

 

It was lunch and she had used Satoshi's well given advice and bribed Inuyasha with her mother's famous bento. Of course he was shocked when he first offered him food.

 

“I thought you said that the deal was off?” He had said.

 

“Well it is.”

 

“Then what's this?”

 

“My mom's box lunch. Want it?” She said teasingly.

 

“What's the catch?” He replied suspiciously.

 

“Well remember when I said that I needed help with my math…”

 

“No.” Inuyasha cut across her.

 

“C'mon, it has ramen in there too…” Kagome swung the bag to and fro. She tried not to smile when his eyes followed it as though her were being hypnotized.

 

He had given in finally. “Fine. Give me that!”

 

The result was a slightly disgruntled Inuyasha trying to help her, and Sango, figure out mathematical equations, but it was proving to be annoying. For one thing, Kagome had learned that being a teacher would be a terrible career with him because he was quick to lose his patience when she didn't understand something. For another, he would sometimes explain things so fast that she didn't understand a word. Third, several students, and teachers, were sending them shocked and wary looks.

 

“Hmm, I think I understand. It's not that hard to memorize. If you just learn one quarter of the circle, then you can pretty much memorize the rest. The coordinates are switched and backwards, but they are basically the same numbers for the entire circle.” Sango began mapping out the numbers on her paper, trying not to look at the picture in her notes.

 

“Why can't Kagome be this easy to teach?” Inuyasha leaned back, pushing the chair to balance on its hind legs.

 

“Oh, sorry for being slow.” Kagome said grumpily, turning to look at Inuyasha. He shrugged and said, “whatever” while scratching the back of his head with one of his chopsticks.

 

“Ew. You're not going to eat with that are you?” Kagome wrinkled her nose.

 

Inuyasha banged his chair back on all fours. “What, are you saying my hair's not clean?”

 

“I think you need a tutor in hygiene Inuyasha.” Sango laughed. “Somehow I think that's a subject he may not pass.” Kagome added.

 

“If you haven't noticed, this is the BACK of the damned thing!” Inuyasha snarled in his defense, waving the utensil in front of the two girls. Kagome squeezed her lips together to keep from bursting in laughter.

 

“Can we get back to math please?” She offered to a still chuckling Sango and a grumpy Inuyasha.

 

“Yeah, that would be a good idea before I change my mind.” He gritted his teeth.

 

“Sorry.” Sango said halfheartedly.

 

“Yeah, whatever.” He bent over the table, taking some of Sango's notes. He brought the papers in front of Kagome, pointing toward a picture. “Look here.” He told her.

 

Several moments later Kagome was rewriting the unit circle for the third time with her tongue between her teeth. Inuyasha was across the table helping Sango with an English lesson. He leaned over to Kagome and pointed to the ninety degree in her circle. “Switch the coordinates. That's for two hundred and seventy degrees not ninety.” He said, and Kagome blushed.

 

She placed her ear on the table mumbling, “I hate math.”

 

“And I'm sure math hates you too.” Inuyasha chuckled. Kagome rewarded his comment with a glare. She opened her mouth to retort, but the second she did, lunch ended and the bell rang. Inuyasha got up from his seat, handing Sango back her papers. “We'd better get going.” Sango nodded and got up while Kagome got her things together.

 

“Stupid photographic memory, master of math.” She cursed under her breath as she finally set her things into her bag and ran after the pair of them. Students looked up at the three of them as they arrived in the classroom, but Kagome, now a veteran because of the rumor fiasco, ignored them and sat at her usual seat. Predictably, Inuyasha placed his head on the table. Kagome pocked him with the back of her pencil and he gave her a tired look.

 

“I am emotionally beat from attempting to teach you trigonometry. Don't push me.” He huffed and placed his head back on the desk.

 

“ `Attempting?' You jerk, are you trying to say that I'm stupid?” Kagome crossed her arms, sticking her tongue out at him.

 

“No, just that you're terrible with numbers.” He said, unaffected, and placed his head back on the table. Sango giggled behind Kagome.

 

“You're on his side?” Kagome raised her brows at her.

 

“Well, he's got a point.” Sango shrugged.

 

“What point?” Kagome barred her teeth at her.

 

“That you're terrible with numbers.”

 

“Damn right she's terrible with numbers!” Inuyasha groused from his seat and Kagome turned her eyes at him, pinching his upper arm. He recoiled and rubbed the sore spot, growling at her. “The hell was that for?”

 

“Nothing.” Kagome grinned. Inuyasha gave her a small shove.

 

“What was that for?” She pouted.

 

“Nothing.” Inuyasha quoted. They glared at each other for a few moments.

 

“You two look so cute together.”

 

“Shut up, Sango.” The pair of them snapped at her.

 

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

 

Kagome was feeling slightly better as she walked toward her brother's room after school. She went inside, bidding the other patients a polite hello before sitting on her customary stool beside Souta's bed. His face had more color that day and Kagome felt relief spread through her almost instantly. She looked him over. He wouldn't be playing soccer anytime soon with that broken arm and leg.

 

The door creaked open and Kagome noticed a nurse she didn't recognize enter the room. She walked by Souta's bed, smiling at her before looking over her brother. “Looks like he's doing better.” She said.

 

“Excuse me.” Kagome began, getting up from her seat.

 

“Oh.” The nurse faced her. “You must be Kagome.”

 

“Uh, yeah.”

 

“I'm glad. When they brought your brother in, we didn't know who we had to contact.” The nurse remarked. “Of course, I was more worried about the boy that came in with him.” She muttered to herself.

 

Kagome caught her words and sent the nurse a puzzled expression before asking, “There were two people in that accident?”

 

“Oh no. A boy came in with him. He was fine, but he recognized your brother so the paramedics had asked to come in. He was really shaken.” The nurse explained. “He suddenly became pale and almost fainted, at least it looked to me as though he would. Poor guy. He said that he needed to get out. I hope he's okay.”

 

Kagome wondered who the boy was and why he suddenly became so weak.

 

 

 

 

 

DUN DUN DUN!!! Bet you're wondering if she will find out. Well you'll have to wait and see. MUHUAHAHAHAH! Happy Turkey Day! I'm going to gain five pounds!

 

 

Jian