InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Drama of Edo High: A Modern Tale ❯ Why is it so hard to ask? ( Chapter 5 )

(Crossed with Rurouni Kenshin characters)

CHAPTER 5: Why is it hard to ask?

As much as she despised school, she was forced to go. These past few weeks haven't been too bad though. She's made new friends; she likes most of the teachers…but what was missing? Kagome shrugged. She'll figure it out. Right now, Algebra needed her attention. She tugged a lock of hair. Man, she hated polynomials. It just confused the hell out her. Mrs. Hurokaki's explanations didn't help either.

Kagome reached over and grabbed a few potato chips. She munched as she ran the problem through her head again. The doorbell rang, but she paid no heed. Her mom answered, and there came some running down stairs.

"Kagome!" her mom called, "Sango's here."

Kagome's head snapped up. Great! Sango may be able to help her. She heard footsteps and Sango's head popped through her door.

"Hey," Sango chirped, "you busy?"

"Please tell me you're here for homework," Kagome whined.

Sango laughed, "You must be a mind reader. Oh just to tell you, I brought Trouble for Double, so Kohaku's here."

Sango dropped her bag on Kagome's lilac bed and came over to look over Kagome's shoulder.

She whistled, "I'm glad I did come, you got more done than I did!"

Kagome groaned and started banging her head on the table. Sango only laughed, and pulled out a slip of paper from her backpack. She tossed it next to Kagome. Kagome stopped banging and gave to paper a bored look.

"What's this?" she sat up and took it.

"You didn't check your mail did you? The school sent it. They're having a dance." Sango sat on her bed.

"Neat. What's the theme?" Kagome asked.

"The weirdest I've seen. It's like a techno, break dance, new age thing. They're hiring a professional DJ." Sango smiled. She hadn't read the best part yet.

Kagome scanned the paper. She read something and snorted. "Ha! DJ Slipknot? Never heard that one before."

"Oh, it gets better," Sango smiled wider.

Kagome glanced at her and found her smiling. What is she happy about? Gong down the paper, she paused. She read it again. Looked at Sango. "Sango, you're not up to something are you?"

Sango gasped dramatically, "I would never!"

"Good, cause I noticed that it says `Couples Discount'. Its nice to know I can trust my best friend." Kagome drawled sarcastically.

Sango chuckled. If everything went well, and Miroku did his part, her plan would work perfectly. The only thing s that would get in her way would be Kouga, Kikyou, and two people's stubborn pride. "Now what would give you the idea that I was planning something?"

~*~

The next day, a B day, Miroku and Inuyasha were walking down to Drama class. The halls were still milling with people who decided to wait till the last minute to get to class. The companions didn't hurry, but they walked silently. That is, till someone called.

"Hey guys!" a red headed boy ran up to them. His hair was pretty long, tied in a low ponytail. He wasn't very tall, but Inuyasha knew him to be a force to be reckoned with. He wore jeans, a white t-shirt, a magenta button down over shirt, and running shoes. He was pretty cute, with bright violet eyes, and his `X' shaped scar on his left cheek didn't diminish it.

"Hey Kenshin, what's up?" Inuyasha turned to him.

"Can I talk to you guys at lunch? I need some help." Kenshin smiled.

"Sure," Miroku answered, "about what?"

"I'll tell you at lunch. I have to get to Computers. See ya later!" Kenshin turned to leave.

"Hey Kenshin!" Inuyasha called. He turned. "See you at kendo tomorrow?"

Kenshin brought his brows down and gave him a cocky grin. "You know it!"

They continued on their way to Drama. Miroku kept his eyes forward, but his stomach jumped with nervousness. That was thanks to two things. One, was his part in Sango's plan, and two, was his part in his own plan. But he'll take Sango's out first. "so, did you get the notice about the dance?"

"Yeah," Inuyasha said noncommittally.

"Did you even read it?" Miroku frowned.

Inuyasha grinned, "nope. Why?"

Miroku sweat dropped and sighed. "Well, it said something about a `couples discount'."

Inuyasha's eyes twitched, and his ears jerked under the cap he wore. He narrowed his eyes at Miroku. "And your point would be?"

"Oh come on Inuyasha! Is it really that hard to figure out!" Miroku snapped, "okay how bout this. We both know a pretty girl who you happen to meet before school started~"

"Kagome?" Inuyasha arched a brow, "and she has to do with this how?"

Miroku rested his head in his hand and sighed, "god your slow. Look, what I'm trying to say is why don't you ask Kagome to the dance? I'm sure~"

"Shut up!" Inuyasha was blushing pretty bad by now, and his fists tightened in his pockets. "Why would she go with me? Besides I never said I liked her like that. She's just a friend."

Yes! Miroku silently thanked Buddha that sometimes, the hanyou was oblivious. He was playing right into it. "That's my point dumbass! Look, it's just a discount so you can get in. so if you guys go as a couple, you save money. I plan to do the same thing with Sango, cause I know she's the sensible type."

Inuyasha could feel his ears burning, and he crossed his arms. "I guess that makes sense." He mumbled.

"Inuyasha, don't worry, it doesn't have to be a date if you don't want it to be." Miroku sighed.

"Who said I did!" Inuyasha growled and added another layer of red to his face.

Miroku held up his hands for peace. "Okay, okay, I get the point. But are you going to ask her?"

Inuyasha growled again and sped ahead. Miroku grinned, and took that as a `yes'. Or `maybe'. Either way, he got the idea into the baka's head, and if he knew Inuyasha, it was going to bug him for the rest of the day.

Drama class was uneventful. The teacher, ms. Haruko, called it a free day. The school asked her to plan the decorations for the dance, and she decided she better ask the students what they wanted, since she had no idea what they would like. They came up with many good ideas.

The four of them sat in the back, Kagome , Inuyasha, Miroku, and Sango. When Miroku came in, he reported to Sango that `phase one' was completed. Sango only smiled diabolically, taking Miroku's breath away. Man, he had to ask her now. In all his girl catching years, he had never met anyone like Sango. She was just so strong willed. No matter what he did, she resisted him. Which made him persistent even more. Sure, he still flirted with other girls, but it was more to pass time. She never knew how much time he spent glancing at her in class. There was no one else like her. Her dark tan hair shone in the sunlight coming through the windows, and her maroon eyes sparkled with mischief. Her rosy lips matched her light pink eye shadow, and she smiled a white toothy grin at him. He had never known nervousness around a girl before Sango came along. Of course, his way of persisting her ended up with some bruises and a wide vocabulary of curses he didn't even know existed. It was now or never.

"Hey Sango?" he asked, his stomach turning ever so slightly.

She looked up curiously at him. "hm?"

"I was wondering…well…um…" `Just ask her you tongue tied coward!' "Would you go to the dance with me?"

She stared at him, stunned speechless. Her bottom lip hung slightly and she blinked at him. As he waited for her to answer, he thought of ways to give her an even greater shock, but didn't take action on them.

"Wait! Wait a second…you want me" she pointed at herself, "to go to the dance…with you?" she pointed at him. Uncertain, Miroku nodded. He expected her to hit him, but he didn't expect her to laugh.

She held her stomach and doubled over on the desk. "Ha! You-you want….you want me…to go with you…ha ha!" when she looked up at him, she instantly regretted laughing. She knew he was a pervert, a lecher, and she assumed that something like this wouldn't matter to him. However, when she looked up, she found it no laughing matter. There was surprise, but most of all hurt. She had…hurt him? He looked away from her in dejection.

"Oh my god! Miroku, I'm so sorry! I thought you were kidding!" she got up and put a hand on his shoulder. She flinched when he threw it off. Guilt surrounded her heart. What did she do?

She hadn't meant to hurt him. She just thought that he joking, playing around, just to ask her because of the discount or to encourage Inuyasha. But now she realized her grave mistake. She grabbed his shoulder more firmly, and he looked at her coldly. Though taken aback, she persisted.

"I am so sorry, Miroku. I didn't mean it. Please, I'm sorry." She blushed as it dawned upon her. Maybe, she really had wanted to go with him, but didn't believe him when he asked. `God you stupid little baka!' "Miroku look at me." He did. "I would be glad to go with you to the dance."

" No you just feel sorry for me now so it doesn't count." He answered coolly. Tears glazed her eyes.

"No! You're wrong. Please, I didn't mean it. I would really…love to go with you." There she said it. Its out and she can't take it back.

He gazed into her eyes, seeking out the truth. But all he saw was anxiety and a light blush darken her cheeks. His face softened and he took her hand. She cheeks went from pink to rose.

Kagome and Inuyasha watched this little interlude with different point of views. Kagome thought it sweet, that Miroku would finally come out and ask her on a date, and that Sango would accept. Inuyasha found it gushy and too romantic. Emotions were for weaklings. But how come his stomach clenched when he heard Kagome sigh beside him, dreaminess clear. He looked over to find her in a dreamy trance, a small smile tugging her lips. She rested her head in her hands, watching Miroku and Sango start their new unknown relationship. She was happy for Sango in particular.

Inuyasha watched her with interest. Should he ask? Did he want to? I mean, it didn't have to mean anything. It wasn't a date, just a suggestion. `Why am I so nervous around her?' when she looked up to find him looking at her she gave him a quick smile and got up to talk to Sango. But she didn't notice when he went bright red, and his hands go tight on the edge of his seat. His heart was going at an unusually fast pace and his palms grew sweaty. Oh boy. He had never felt this before. He tugged on his forelocks. What is he going to do?

The bell rang, and students gathered bags. Kagome's was on the other side of Inuyasha. Thinking she knew him well enough by now, she merely reached across him and snatched it. Inuyasha thought his head was going to explode.

When she reached over, her hair fell to the side, brushing his cheek and nose. It felt like silk, raw silk. He took a deep breath. It smelled like lilacs, lavender, flowers, and dew. Her own distinct scent mixed with it, a rich earthy scent that reminded him of the forest. When she pulled back, he had to shove his hands in his pockets to stop him from pulling her close. Her scent got him really riled. He sat for a minute, trying desperately to calm his racing heart and cool his humming blood.

Deep in his efforts, he didn't notice that Kagome knew he had breathed her in. her cheeks went red as roses and she clutched her bag involuntarily. She felt her stomach quiver, and resisted the urge to just pretend she tripped and fall on his lap. She shook her head vigorously. God! How does he get under her skin like that? It didn't help that she liked it. Red as a beacon, she threw on her bag and sped out the door. Stunned a bit, Sango went after her. Miroku, on the other hand, went to snap Inuyasha out of his reverie.

"Come on," he slapped a hand on Inuyasha's shoulder, making him jump. "We don't have time to fantasize."

Blushing deeper, Inuyasha hurriedly got up and left, Miroku trailing behind. When he caught up with him, Miroku had a smug smirk on. "Still don't want to ask her?"

"Shut up!" Inuyasha barked, and walked faster. Miroku only chuckled.

~*~

Language too, was uneventful, doing the same thing they had done for weeks. But no one noticed when Kagome snapped at Sango to shut up and stop asking her questions. Kagome really didn't have the guts to answer her. Right now those guts were still shaking at the memory of Inuyasha being so close to her, then sniffing her hair. She didn't know what it was, but the boy got to her, and it gave her goose bumps. What is wrong with her? She fiddled with her pen as she pondered. Well, it really wasn't what was `wrong', but more of what was `right'. Her mom had told her years ago when her period first started that she'd be more aware of boys, but she hadn't expected this. Inuyasha…what is it about you that makes me want to tremble for you? Ack! Get your head out of the gutter! But…she couldn't deny it. She had a huge crush on the hanyou. Just the thought of him made her neck hair stand on end. Sigh. What was she going to do?

The lunch bell rang, and a bit down, Kagome switched her books at her locker. The others went ahead, saying she'd catch up. More like she needed more time to get the memory of Inuyasha's breath tickling her ear out of her head.

"Hey cutie," Kouga leaned against the lockers to her left. She jumped then laughed.

"Kouga! You scared me!"

"Just a bonus," he laughed. He turned to give her a flattering look. "So I was hoping, with the dance coming up, if you'd like to go with me."

She closed her locker and spun the lock. Grasping her books, she glanced nervously at him. Where was Sango, or better yet Inuyasha, when you needed them? When she looked closely at Kouga, she noticed his lip was cut. She frowned, "you guys weren't fighting again were you?"

He snorted, "don't worry about it."

Her frown deepened. Inuyasha versus Kouga, always. She wondered what it was about this time. She remembered their first fight of the year. The second day of school, Inuyasha came in with a few bruises along his jaw, and she later saw Kouga with a shiner. When asked what it was about, Inuyasha only told her it was a guy thing. Yeah right. They probably picked up the fight from biology.

But back to the question at hand. "I don't know Kouga, I wasn't really planning to go…"

"But you have to!" he piped up, "don't leave me hanging Kagome."

"I'll think about it," she replied and walked past him. Yeah, she'll think about…in like, never. Kouga was nice, but he just wasn't the kind of guy she looked for. `What is your type? Inuyasha?' a voice chirped from the back of her head. `Shut up, its only a crush, its stupid' she growled back at it. `Sure it is' it sneered. Frustrated, Kagome stormed into the cafeteria and looked for her friends. When she found them, her eyebrows shot up. Right now, Miroku and Inuyasha were having a heated discussion with a red headed boy with a big scar on his cheek. She sat down and watched.

"Come on man!" Miroku threw up his hands, "its not that hard!"

"That's easy for you to say!" the boy yelled back.

"Who's that?" Kagome asked Sango, who was greatly entertained by the boys.

Sango finished her bite of her lunch, "Kenshin Himura, he's in the Kendo club with Inuyasha. Right now, Miroku and Inuyasha are trying to give him the guts to ask Karou to the dance, a girl he likes really badly."

"Would you just shut up and do it!" Inuyasha growled, "it won't be that hard if you don't give a damn!"

"But I do! I do care, that I do." Kenshin sighed and hung his head. "I'm such a loser."

"No, you're a coward," Inuyasha stated.

"Like you would know," Miroku hissed at him. "Listen Kenshin, I'm sure she would be delighted to go with you, all you have to do is ask."

Kenshin only sighed and shook his head again, "but what if she says no?"

"Then she says no, too bad, no use crying over it," Inuyasha grunted and crossed his arms.

`Poor guy' Kagome thought. Of course, asking other guys didn't help. This needed a woman's touch.

"Kenshin?" he looked at her curiously, "hi, I'm Kagome. Anyways, I want to help. Come here a sit across from me." He got up and sat. "Okay, I want you to look me straight in the eyes and take a deep breath." He did, exhaling deeply. "Now ask me to the dance."

"Nani?!" Inuyasha, and Sango yelled at the same time.

Kagome waved her hand at them. "Don't pay attention to them. I want you to pretend I'm Karou and ask me. Go on."

Kenshin brought the image of Karou to his mind, and he blushed. He imaged her dark hair flowing, giving off a purplish tint, and her bright purple eyes shining for him. She smiled shyly and blushed. Nervous all over again, Kenshin had trouble saying the words. "uh,uh…would y-you…"

"Stop," Kagome held up her hands, "deep breath. Good. Now try again."

"K-Karou, would you like t-to go t-to the d-dance with me?"

"Good!" giddy, Kagome got up and grabbed Kenshin's hand. Before he could blush, she tugged him off his feet and dragged him across the room.

"Now where is your lady to be?" Kagome asked, relentless on her grasp. He is not about to give up.

Kenshin looked around and spotted her in the corner. "Over there." His heart started pumping as she dragged him that way. "W-wait! I don't know if~"

But he couldn't finish because they neared Karou's table. Karou looked up confused, looking from Kenshin to Kagome.

"Are you Karou? Hi, I'm Kagome, and my friend Kenshin here would like to ask you something." Still dragging him, Kagome pulled Kenshin in front of her.

Kenshin gulped, trying to dislodge the lump in his throat. When Karou looked innocently up at him, he felt as heat rise up from his neck. He jumped when Kagome's elbowed connected with his back. "Uh Karou? I-I was wondering…you know…i-if you weren't…what I'm trying to say~"

"Kenshin?" Karou smiled, "are you asking me out?"

Turning beet red, Kenshin nodded. Karou squealed and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Oh yes! Yes I would love to!" laughing Kenshin hugged her in return.

Kagome left the blushing couple and went back to her table. She bowed as Sango, Inuyasha, and Miroku started applauding.

As Kagome sat down, Miroku turned to Inuyasha, "and that my friend, is how its done."

Pink tinted Inuyasha'a nose and he looked away.

~*~

They went to Literature with Ms. Akido, then math with Mrs. Hurokaki. Her nasally voice gave her the effect of sounding like a parrot. Snickers were heard as she pronounced `r's', drawing them out like a bird.

"Okay students," she handed out paper, "using equations, I want you to wr-r-rite out a message to some one. You have to devise the problems and find the answers and apply letters to the answers so the spell out a word or sentence."

They got right to work. As Kagome giggled as she wrote problems so the answers made out "your feet smell like cheese", and planned to give it to Sango, Inuyasha was having hard time of what to write. Should he write to Miroku? He glanced over as Kagome giggled again. Or maybe…ping! Light bulb! This was the prefect opportunity to ask Kagome out. Wait…did he…just…Inuyasha blushed. Is that what he wanted? If it wasn't, why did he just think it? She snickered, and he determined that yes, it was. so with a new vigor, he made up equations and wrote the answers. She'll never know.

Kagome finished hers and handed to Sango. Sango gave her a look, but she only laughed. When she looked down at her desk, she found someone had put a paper down for her.

"I think you'll like it," Inuyasha whispered.

She looked at it again and saw they were pretty easy, even though there were a lot. Answering on another piece of paper, she almost flew through the problems. Finished she held it up. And froze. She looked form his paper to hers and double-checked. Nope, her eyes didn't deceive her. Very clearly, in her handwriting was `would u like to go to the dance with me?' she looked back to Inuyasha to find him grinning. She slowly smiled back at him.

"So how bout it?" he whispered.

She put a finger to her chin, pretending to think about it. "Well….okay. I'd love to."

~*~:: aw, how cute. I love to make my puppets dance. Enjoy!!::~*~