InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Bad Influences ❯ Bad Influence #Twenty-Six: Fighting ( Chapter 26 )

Yes, I know it's been a LONG time since I updated this story. There was one problem: I had complete and utter writer's block. Up until the last chapter I had everything planned out, so now I have no more buffers ready…and I have to write as ideas come along, which I hate doing, but I felt that I put this story off long enough so here's an update. I really should get things moving.

 

So while I could be playing videogames and lazing off on my spring break, I'm sitting in front of the computer, typing. I hope you enjoy and if you don't feel free to flame, because even I would be pissed at myself for keeping my readers waiting for so long.

 

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha, nor will I take credit for Romiko Takahashi's genius.

 

 

 

 

 

Bad Influence # Twenty-Six: Fighting

 

 

 

 

 

Kagome slammed her fist against her alarm clock twice before she finally groaned and opened her eyes. Stretching her arm, she grabbed the clock from her bedside table and brought it up to her eyes, squinting till her vision cleared. Seven thirty. Why had she even bothered to put her alarm on in the first place? She stared at the clock, tying to figure what its purpose was for before she suddenly jolted from the bed.

 

Yawning and grabbing her jeans at the same time, Kagome scrambled about her room trying to get her school things while putting on her clothes. She shivered from the early morning air. Getting ready for school in record time, she was down the stairs and already wearing her shoes when Mama poked her head out from the kitchen.

 

“You're not going to eat breakfast Kagome?”

 

“No.” Kagome said as she finished tying her laces. “I'll be late if I stay another minute. Be safe Mama. And tell Souta I wish him luck on his first day back!”

 

Kagome thought about her bed and wondered if it was still warm as she reached the first cross street and waited for the light to change. The first day back to school. To think that it was about six months ago that Inuyasha almost ran her over on this street. Just bear it until March and then you can put your mind into college entrance exams, she told herself.

 

She sprinted into school, up the stairs and into the classroom ten minutes before the class started and immediately placed her head on the desk. Maybe she could get a minute to wake up before her first class.

 

“You look like hell.”

 

Kagome groaned. It looked like Sango wasn't going to let her have those sixty seconds.

 

“I woke up late.” Kagome poked Sango in the ribs. Sango flinched back in her chair for a second before grinning.

 

“Did you double press the snooze button again?”

 

“Oh shut up.”

 

“Your hair is a mess.”

 

“It is?”

 

Sango dug into her bag and brought out a little mirror. Kagome squinted at her reflection when Sango held the pocket mirror up to her eyes. Her hair was all over her face, poofy, and falling down her shoulders in big clumps.

 

“I look like big foot.” Kagome ran her fingers through her hair, trying to bring some order to her mop-head look.

 

“You must be tired if you're this out of it. Were you up late?”

 

She was, but Kagome didn't think she had the strength to open her mouth and tell Sango that a certain someone was talking with her on the phone for half the night. Speaking of Inuyasha, where is he? Kagome looked at the clock. There was five minutes left.

 

“Higurashi!” Kagome groaned. Not now! She wasn't in the mood to hear one of Tatsuya's speeches.

 

He came near her and knocked on her desk to get her attention. “As you know-”

 

“Please just tell me that when we have a student council meeting so that I can go back to being miserable on the first morning back to school.”

 

Tatsuya blinked at her for a moment and ten crossed his arms. As Kagome stared at his face she began to understand why Inuyasha thought he was so annoying. “Is that the kind of attitude a role model for the student body is supposed to take? You're lucky that I can't kick you off the team otherwise-”

 

“President Tatsuya, do you think you can let it go just this once? We've had a very bad night. Still trying to cram in some study time for entrance exams.” Sango said swiftly.

 

Tatsuya clicked his teeth. “Fine, just this once. I hope your attitude improves.” He told Kagome before he went to his seat.

 

“I hope your pompous butt falls down the stairs.” Kagome mumbled.

 

Sango laughed and then turned her head when the classroom door slid open. “Speaking of pompous.”

 

Kagome looked up to see Inuyasha waddle into the classroom. He slumped down into the chair next to her and then placed his head on the desk. “And I thought I looked terrible.” Kagome said. His hair was matted and bags had formed under his weary eyes. “Laugh it up will you. It's not like it's my fault that you kept me up half the night.”

 

“This coming from the guy who kept telling me to hang up first?” Kagome yawned.

 

“I'm not the one who kept coming up with topics to talk about.”

 

“Pipe down, you two, the teacher's here. Geez, the first day back and they're already arguing.” Sango huffed.

 

“She started it.”

 

“He started it.”

 

They glared at each other. The teacher slammed her hand on her desk to get the classes attention. She cleared her throat and spoke. “Today we have a new student joining us from Hokkaido.”

 

The students in the class sat up straight and looked expectantly toward the door. Inuyasha yawned, supporting his chin with his hand. A girl walked in. She was tall, with long, braided, black hair that went down to her lower back. She stood in front of the class and smiled while the teacher introduced her. “This is Takanashi Haruhi.”

 

Inuyasha sat up straight and starred. He felt as though his entire body was covered in sweat as he looked at the new student. She didn't notice him, but still he felt a thunderstorm raging in his heart. He clenched his jaw. Kagome peeked at him from her desk, tilting her head to make sure that the expression on his face was really there.

 

“So please, make Miss Takanashi feel welcome. Take a seat.”

 

Haruhi thanked the teacher and looked around the classroom. That's when it happened: when her warm, brown eyes reached Inuyasha's, they turned icy. Inuyasha felt his body go as rigid as a metal pole as he glared back at her. She blinked and the cold fury left her face as she took a seat several rows behind him, yet he could still feel coldness on his back.

 

Kagome turned her head to look at Haruhi, but saw that she was already reaching into her backpack and preparing her notebook. She then glanced at Inuyasha. He was still sitting straight, even though he'd already began copying the writing on the board. Kagome couldn't help but notice how white the skin on his hands had suddenly become, but, before she could comment, the teacher scolded her for not paying attention.

 

For the rest of the day, Kagome was too busy to ask Inuyasha why he was so edgy. In the morning, after lecture was over, she had to go present the student council's plans for the rest of the semester and remind the class to work extra hard if they wanted extra curricular activities to be kept within the school budget. During the morning break she had to hunt down all her teammates to tell them about their first practice session for track and check in with Coach Hatari.

 

If her responsibilities weren't enough, Inuyasha seemed like he was avoiding her. The only time Kagome saw him was during class. He wouldn't talk, he wouldn't blink, or even put his head on the table, he'd just copy notes from the board, and when the teacher gave them work, Inuyasha was so absorbed into what he was doing that was like the assignment was his only reason for existence.

 

When lunchtime came around, Kagome thought she'd saw something before he did another vanishing act. “Hey, Inuyasha.” Kagome began as she pulled her lunchbox out from her bag and sat on her desk.

 

“What's up?” He said without looking up from the paper he was writing on.

 

“You know, class is over, you can take a break. Are you okay, I've never seen you so-”

 

“Excuse me, Kagome?”

 

Kagome looked up at Haruhi. “Can I talk to you?”

 

“Sure.”

 

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Inuyasha stand and walk off. “Inuyasha?”

 

Without looking at her he said, “I need some air.” Then he left the room.

 

Kagome sighed. “So what did you want to talk about?”

 

Haruhi fidgeted for a moment as though she had forgotten what she was going to say. “Oh, well I never got a chance to thank you for helping me with all my summer class work. Thanks.”

 

“You're welcome. I'm just glad that there was another girl with us at night. All the violence that's been going on in the last few months has had me on edge.”

 

“I know what you mean.” Haruhi stared at Inuyasha's empty chair. “Hey, are there any positions open in student council?”

 

“I don't really know. You'd have to ask Tatsuya. He's the student council president. He should know.”

 

Haruhi shifted her weight from side to side and pressed her lips together as though she were trying to keep something from escaping from her mouth. Kagome waved her hand in front of her face. “Is something wrong?”

 

“No. Well actually, I wanted to ask…the boy that sits next to you, how long has he been here?”

 

“You mean Inuyasha?”

 

“Inuyasha…?”

 

“Taisho. He's been here since the school year started in spring.” Haruhi's face darkened. “Do you know him?” Kagome asked.

 

“Hmm? No. He just looks like someone I know that's all. Thanks for the info, though. I'll see you around.”

 

As Haruhi walked away, Kagome remembered how off Inuyasha had been acting. Haruhi frowned when she spoke of him. Did they really know each other? The sooner she found Inuyasha, the sooner she could ask him, assuming that lunch lasted long enough for her to do that.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Haruhi walked into the student council lounge. Students huddled around a round table, talking in low and hurried voices. She tapped a girl on the shoulder to get her attention.

 

“Can I help you?”

 

“I'm looking for the student council president.”

 

“You'll have to wait, Tatsuya-sempai is out meeting with our teacher. Do you want me to give him a message miss…”

 

“Takanashi Haruhi. No thanks. I'll talk to him later. What was your name?”

 

“Call me Yoko. I'm the president's secretary. Well sort of.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Class was going to start in five minutes and Kagome hadn't found Inuyasha. With no choice but to go back to class before she was late, she decided to find him after school. Kagome slumped back into her seat and turned to face Sango. “Hey, have you been getting weird vibes all day too?”

 

Sango pressed her lips together. “Yeah, the air seems thicker then usual. I mean, I know that the first day of school always has its own feel, but for some reason I feel like there's some kind of slow energy hanging over me. Is that the vibe you're getting?”

 

Before Kagome could answer, Inuyasha came back into the room. He sat down next to her without saying anything, and Kagome couldn't help but noticed how tired he looked.

 

“Listen, Inuyasha-”

 

“Take your seats please.” The teacher said as she entered the room. Kagome almost wanted to slam her head against her desk out of frustration. Almost. As soon as the teacher turned her back, Kagome scribbled a note on a piece of paper she tore from her notebook and placed it on Inuyasha's desk. He read the scrap of paper and then turned to her and nodded. Kagome let out a puff of relief. At least now she knew that he was going to meet her after track practice.

 

When school was over, the three of them walked down to the track field together. “Finally!” Sango stretched. “I felt like the school day could go on forever.”

 

“You're telling me. I hate the first day of school.” Kagome said.

 

“I agree.” Inuyasha murmured. He tried his best not to yawn and failed. Kagome's hand grasped his and he turned to look at her. “What is it?”

 

“You've been off since morning. Is something wrong?” Kagome asked.

 

“He's probably just bitter from having to wake up so early.” Sango said.

 

Inuyasha clicked his teeth. “For your information, I've been having some trouble with insomnia lately.”

 

“Yeah, I bet it's all that late night phone conversations you two have been having.”

 

“You know, Sango, you've been hanging around Miroku too long. His annoyingness is starting to rub off on you.”

 

Sango rolled her eyes. “You're less mature then he is, and that's saying something since Miroku is such a lecher.”

 

“I should say I'm more mature seeing as I don't stare at anything with breasts and legs as though I've never seen another female in my life.”

 

“You know something Inuyasha, you can just-”

 

“I can't believe you two are arguing about something so ironic.” Kagome huffed. “You're supposed to be my best friend. Please don't pick fights with my boyfriend.” She pointed to Sango and then to Inuyasha. “And you're supposed to be annoying. Can't you just make your usual jokes instead of picking on my best friend?”

 

“What the hell? How am I annoying? You know, you're supposed to defend me, not-”

 

“I rest my case.” Kagome said. “Now you turn apologize to each other so that we can get on with our lives.”

 

Inuyasha and Sango looked at each other and then grinned nervously. “She's right. Sorry.” Inuyasha said.

 

“Yeah, me too. With is with all of us today?”

 

“I wish I could answer that question but I've got to get going. I can't be late. Hatari Sensei would give me a lecture since I'm team captain.” Kagome pointed to the ladies locker room.

 

“See you later.” Sango and Inuyasha waved when Kagome disappeared into the locker room.

 

“I'd better get going too. It's only the first day and Tatsuya's already asking me to calculate what we can do with the new semester's budget.” Sango said.

 

“Do you need my superior math skills to help?”

 

“Nah. Besides, I know you want to stay and wait for Kagome. Don't let me interrupt your smoochy time with her.”

 

Inuyasha made a move to lightly hit Sango, but she quickly moved away and waved goodbye. “As soon I get home, I'm phoning Miroku to tell him to dump you!” He yelled at her.

 

“Good luck! I bet he'd take a cute girl over you any day.”

 

“Whatever.” Sango left, and Inuyasha couldn't help but smile. “You know, I'll never admit it, but you're right about that one.”

 

The sound of a whistle made Inuyasha turn. The boy's track team was already stretching. Girls were beginning to walk out of the locker rooms and gathering around the coach. As soon as he saw Kagome come out of the dressing room, he turned to leave. Watching sports was never really his thing. He preferred to be in the action rather then cheering on the sidelines. Someplace high would be a nice place to wait till Kagome was finished with practice.

 

Inuyasha walked back into the main building and headed for the roof. There weren't many students left. Some were still cleaning the classrooms and others had remained to meet with their clubs. For a moment, he felt out of place. Was he the only one that didn't have a group to belong to?

 

As Inuyasha got on the roof, he thought about Maki, Satoshi and Miroku. He had always been apart of their group, and he knew he was welcome there. Yet for some reason, seeing Kagome with her track team, and the students with their clubs, he felt like he couldn't just enter another group as easily as they could. Sure, he could try out for soccer, but it reminded him too much of his days in middle school, playing soccer with Satoshi.

 

Inuyasha lit a cigarette. Maybe, Inuyasha thought as he breathed in, I don't want to join another group because I'm afraid I won't be welcome. “What the fuck.” Inuyasha huffed, throwing the newly lit bud on the floor and stomping on it. Since when was he so gloomy? “Somebody hand me a razor. At this point I might as well call Kaede and tell her to schedule a meeting with a therapist.”

 

“That sounds like a good idea.”

 

Inuyasha turned. Haruhi leaned next to the doorway that led to the roof. She glared at him and even though she were halfway across the roof, the intensity of her stare was enough to make Inuyasha feel like someone had pressed hot iron into his skin.

 

“What the fuck are you doing here?”

 

“I could ask you the same thing. Why are you still in high school? Did you get held back a grade?”

 

“Why are you bothering to ask me when you already know the answer. It's not like I had a choice when I was pulled out of school.” Inuyasha folded his arms. “What do you want?”

 

Haruhi came forward till she was only an arm's length away from him. “I'm here to tell you to stay away from Kagome.”

 

If she weren't a girl, he would have hit her. “What the fuck? Who are you to tell me who I can and cannot be close to? That's my fucking decision not yours.”

 

Haruhi's eyes darkened as they narrowed. “Asshole, you still think you have the right to be with someone? After everything you've done? You better stay away from Kagome or else.”

 

“Or else what? You're going to tell the teachers on me?”

 

“No. I don't need to warn the teachers since they already don't trust you. All I need to do is tell Kagome what you did five years ago. That should be enough. If I have to make her hate you, that's fine with me.”

 

Inuyasha grabbed the collar of her shirt. “You bitch! Don't you fucking dare!”

“Get your hands off me!” Haruhi kicked him in the shin and he let go of her as he stumbled back in surprise.

 

“Why you-”

 

“You listen good, you half bastard,” Haruhi walked toward the roof entrance, “if you ever touch me again, I promise to have you arrested. As for Kagome, stay away from her, unless you want to be responsible for hurting another girl.”

 

“Responsible? You think I meant for Aki-”

 

“Save it for someone who believes you.” Haruhi slammed the door behind her. As she walked down the staircase, she heard Inuyasha curse.

 

Good. She thought. As she reached the bottom step she saw someone standing in the hall. It was the girl from student council.

 

“Snooping?” Haruhi asked.

 

Yoko didn't even flinch at her accusation. “You planning something?”

 

“What's it to you?”

 

“You know, you should lay off Kagome. Her brother got hurt a while back. I won't say I like the bitch, but even I wouldn't bother her when she has enough problems of her own.”

 

“Are you saying that because you really feel that way, or you're too scared of Inuyasha to interfere with her?”

 

Yoko waved her arm. “It doesn't matter. What are you going to do?”

 

Haruhi walked around Yoko. “What are you so interested for? Weren't you just saying that I should lay off Kagome since her little brother got hurt?”

 

Yoko stepped back in front of her to block her path. “Yeah, but, like I said, that doesn't mean I like the bitch. I was just leaving her alone because she had a hard time. Besides, I've got a bone to pick with Inuyasha. He's been annoying the hell out of me since he came to this school.”

 

“Is this revenge?”

 

“Sort of. I don't really care what happens to Kagome. I just want to get back at Inuyasha for making a fool out of me.”

 

“Well then I think we might just get along. But I warn you, if you do anything to Kagome, I'll make you're life so miserable, you'll wish you never got tangled up with me in the first place.”

 

Yoko shrugged. “Same warning to you. So why are you so pissed with the asshole?”

 

“That's none of your business. I'm in this for my reasons just like you are. Why don't we leave it at that?”

 

“Fine.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kagome stretched, pulling her duffle bag over her shoulder. “Good practice girls.” The coach announced as the girls prepared to leave. “Remember, the next practice is on Wednesday. Just because I won't be here tomorrow doesn't mean that you don't have laps to run. Kagome, you know the drill.”

 

The girls groaned. After making sure that everyone agreed to run laps the next day, Kagome headed off to the bleachers. Inuyasha was sitting in the highest seat, starring at the sky.

 

“You really like high places don't you.” Kagome said as she reached him.

 

Without breaking his concentration on the sky, he said. “I once thought about buying a truck just so I could look down on other cars and feel taller, but I got my short Lexus instead.”

 

“Why didn't you get it?”

 

“I thought it was too showy. I'm already tall enough. Plus, I wasn't going to go around driving a big car just because I like to be higher up. That's like buying a fancy car because you have a tiny…” Kagome grunted in annoyance. Inuyasha peeked at her to see that she was glaring at him.

 

“What? I didn't say it.”

 

Kagome rolled her eyes. “You know, I expect lewd jokes from Miroku, not you.”

 

“Sorry.”

 

Kagome blinked. Something was off. He didn't retaliate. To readily apologize with such resignation, it just wasn't like him. He wasn't looking at her; he was staring at the sky so deep in his own thoughts that he didn't even seem to acknowledge her presence.

 

“Inuyasha. Has something been bothering you? You've been acting strange all day.”

 

He took a deep breath. “Maybe I just need some sleep.” Then, suddenly he leaned forward, his elbows on his thighs. “Can I ask you something? We always argue. I always make fun of you. So how is it that we suddenly ended up together?”

 

Kagome laughed. “Is that what this is all about? Inuyasha, if I didn't like you, I wouldn't go out with you. So we argue. Big deal. It's not like we hit each other because we don't agree on something. And didn't you say that you get great results from teasing me?”

 

“What, are you saying that you enjoy fighting and having me make fun of you?”

 

“It's part of our friendship isn't it?”

 

Inuyasha didn't seem convinced, he stared down between his legs and at the empty water bottle that someone had thrown under the bleachers. Kagome poked him in the ribs. He jerked. “Hey!”

 

“Okay, what's really bothering you. You've been staring off into space all day. Come on,” Kagome put a hand on his arm, “tell me what's bothering you.”

 

Inuyasha stared at her. She huffed and then smiled. “Hey, you know, I may be attracted to vulnerability, but it's no fun if you don't play your part and tell me why you're so upset.”

 

Inuyasha smiled, shook his head and stood. “So you admit it. You ARE attracted to vulnerable guys.”

 

Kagome placed her hands on her hips. “You already said that. So are you going to tell me?”

 

Inuyasha turned, taking steps on the bleachers till he below her, looking up. “Nope.”

 

“Oh come on!”

 

Kagome stood when she noticed that he was slowly inching toward the bottom seat. “Inuyasha!”

 

“Nooo, I can't tell you my weaknesses, my ego can't take it!”

 

The moment he started to run, Kagome knew he was declaring war. She rushed down the bleachers and onto the track field, chasing him. “You big jerk! Here I am trying to comfort you and you run away!”

 

“What are you talking about? Pissing you off is making me feel better. You're doing a good job!”

 

Kagome growled. “Why you!” She dashed toward him, increasing her speed. Seeing her gang up on him, he stopped and just as she was about to reach him, he switched directions, running toward her.

 

“Are you nuts!” Kagome yelled and skidded to a stop to stop herself from colliding into him. Inuyasha ran past her, winking. That's it! Kagome raced after him, this time, ganging up on him so fast, that when she did reach him, she pulled his sleeve so hard the he stumbled and fell on her.

 

Kagome reeled backward for a moment before landing hard on her bottom. Inuyasha fell on his behind first and then on his back. His head landed in Kagome's lap. “Ow, well at least my head fell on something soft this time. You really enjoy tackling me, don't you.”

 

“I wouldn't have done it if you hadn't run away like a four year old. And you were the one accusing ME of running away from everything the day I told you I liked you.” Kagome pulled her legs out from under him and stood. “If you don't want to tell me what's wrong, then fine, don't, but at the very least, tell me instead of avoiding the subject.”

 

Inuyasha didn't move from his spot on the ground. “You noticed huh?”

 

“I'm not stupid. I won't force you to tell me.”

 

He stretched his neck to get a better look at her. “You won't?”

 

“No. But I am little angry. Why won't you tell me? Is it because you don't trust me.”

 

“That's not it.”

 

“Then what is it!”

 

Inuyasha stood. “I just can't tell you, okay.”

 

Kagome's shoulders rose and she scowled. “Fine. This is just like that time you didn't tell me why you have some fear of hospitals. You really don't trust me.”

 

“I said that wasn't the reason!”

 

“Yeah right. What other reason could there be. If you don't trust me enough to just say why you're so upset, then maybe I shouldn't trust you either.”

 

Kagome stomped passed him, bumping her shoulder on his arm. As Inuyasha watched her walked away, he thought about Haruhi. Maybe, I don't need to her to drive Kagome away, since I seem to be able to do it myself. Maybe Haruhi was right.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I feel so rusty…man…aw well…*Prepares for the flames*