InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Dressing the part ❯ Blown Away ( Chapter 10 )

Dressing the Part

Chapter Ten

Blown Away

"Alright, for you new guys, this week is very important for the team. We prepare for our fiercest opponents, our arch-rivals..." Inuyasha began the speech he prepared for the team. "As you know, this game is so important because it determines how much funding we get, if any. We need to beat the Takahashi School for Girls Softball Team."

At this, many of the guys could not control their laughter. The idea of a girls team beating them was laughable, which is what they were doing, laughing.

"Yash, don't we usually just work on fundraising with them and split it evenly?" Miroku was the only one to see the peculiar situation as anything but laughable. Why would they have to play the softball team?

"Yeah, that's what we usually do, but Kikyo said if we want anything we're gonna have to beat them to get it...on their field with their rules."

Now was Kouga's turn to comment...or outburst depending on one's point of view. "Are you shittin' me? We get to tee off while they lob the ball to us? AND they have a shorter fence. This is gonna rock."

"If you believe that, you really are a piece of wolf-shit!" Everyone stopped, shocked and confused not at the comment, but at who it came from. Kagome was pissed. She knew boys' teams saw girls as a joke. She had heard the comments all her life. The distances were smaller and the ball was bigger. Therefore, the game was easier.

They were dead wrong.

"If they want it on their field with their rules, they will not just lob it to you, idiot. They do more than that. Their pitchers will have a lot more movement with a lot bigger strike zone to do it. We wouldn't be able to even touch the ball. And, if it is by their rules, we'll have to pitch underhand to them too dumbass! Whatever we do, by some miracle, manage to hit, with us pitching they could quintuple it, if not more! So sit down and shut up until you learn to think before you speak!"

Kouga, knowing Kagome was in fact probably one of these girls who could throw underhand, was insulted that she could say he couldn't hit off a girl. "You listen here, Higurashi. I don't care who they think they are, or who you think you are for that matter. No girl will ever, and I mean ever, strike me out. You hear me?"

Kouga's chauvinism was enraging every nerve in the young woman's body. She would show him. "I'll tell you what, Kouga. If you can hit off me, I will do any favor you could possibly want from me." For the next part she leaned in close to his ear and as her breath caressed it, the sheer pleasure entranced his body. For his ears only she whispered "That includes whatever you would like done by or to Miko."

Kouga stood there in disbelief; his eyes wide and his mouth hanging open. As he regained his composure, wolfish smirk donned his face. "I'm assuming that goes both ways?" Seeing her nod, he continued, "I accept. When and where?"

"Right here. Right now. I just need to warm up a little." She winked at him and he thought of all the possible meanings that phrase could have.

She pulled Souta over to the diamond and started to warm up. Kouga was watching her slowly toss the larger, yellow ball she had stowed in her bag. She was so slow and she was only throwing from about twenty feet from home plate. Then, she stepped back to forty feet from home plate, the distance girls pitch from until college. He grew worried. All of the guys had eyes transfixed on Kagome. All of them glad Kouga was the one to make an ass of himself and not them.

"I'm ready Kouga, or are you not man enough?"

"I'll show you. Bring it on."

Souta announced the terms. "Treat this like a regular at bat. Three strikes and Kagome wins. A hit or a walk and Kouga wins. Foul balls count as strikes unless there are already two strikes. Agreed?"

After both players nodded they began.

Souta, knowing what Kagome liked to throw (after having been an unwilling practice catcher for her for years), started off by flashing a few signals that indicated an inside fastball. Souta knew Kouga wouldn't be able to catch it. Kagome nodded and started her motion

Kouga swung! Kouga missed.

Now Kagome would want to pitch something Kouga could never see in baseball. He flashed a sign indicating a rise ball that would cross the middle of the plate.

She wound up and threw.

Kouga was sure this one was his until it started to go...up?

"What the hell was that Higurashi?"

"That was a rise ball Kouga. It goes up."

"That's not legal."

"Why not?" Kagome question unflustered.

"It...it...it just isn't."

"I'm afraid, Kouga, it is perfectly legal. Now, step back in the batter's box. You have two strikes."

Kouga grumbled as he prepared himself to hit the snot out of the ball.

Souta flashed a change-up sign. Kouga would expect it coming fast and the slower speed would throw him off.

She released the ball and Kouga tried to keep his hands back and swing, but he was off balance. Not only did he strike out, but he fell flat on his face.

Kagome casually walked over to him and helped him up. "I guess it wasn't as easy as you thought it was."

"I suppose I may have been misjudging you."

She gave him a genuine smile.

He thought she looked amazing.

Inuyasha had not paid attention to their interaction after Kouga fell flat on his face but, he did get an idea.

"Hey Kagome. Where'd you learn that?"

When she hadn't responded right away, Souta interjected. "He used to throw batting practice to our sister's old teams...to be closer to hot, sweaty girls." Miroku smirked at the idea wondering why he hadn't thought of that when he and Sango were younger. "In fact," Souta continued, "we saw one of her old teammates the other night. What was her name? Oh yeah! Sango. Kagome and Sango used to be really close."

"You saw Sango?!" Kagome shrieked as she feigned surprise.

Miroku was bewildered. `He and Sango were...close?' He gulped. He was in trouble.

Inuyasha said confidently, "Anyway, you're gonna be pitching against the girls team."

As the group took this in about five people gave a collective response.

"WHAT?!!!"

AN- Thanks to everyone who reviewed and special thanks to everybody who checked out my second fic, "Those we Leave Behind".