InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Good Advice ❯ The Plan ( Chapter 5 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

I do not own Inuyasha and I make no money from these stories.

Chapter 5 - The Plan - (Last Stand - 1677)


When Sesshoumaru arrived at pottery class the next day, he was relieved to see Kagome, though she didn't look too happy to be there. His heart clenched in his chest. He did this to her. It was his fault she was so confused, so uncertain. Everything that had happened was because of his own selfish desire to make her want him and now he felt guilty, though not enough to give her up. He'd never felt this way about anyone and he couldn't have stopped if he wanted to.

The taiyoukai walked up to the table he shared with the miko and decided to distract her from her obviously troublesome thoughts. "Kagome? Would you like to accompany me to collect our projects?"

The miko smiled brightly. She'd forgotten that their creations had been fired and were supposed to be ready today! Kagome nodded and rose, showing Sesshoumaru to the table where everyone's things were laid out. She picked up her vase and inspected it for any damage before grinning. It came out perfectly! She glanced at the male by her side and couldn't help but giggle.

"There's only one bowl on the table, Sesshoumaru. It has to be yours."

His brow furrowed in confusion and Kagome couldn't help but notice how adorable he looked in that instant. "It is not possible. It is far too small."

Kagome picked it up and showed him his initials carved in the bottom. "I promise you, it's yours. Remember, I told you it was going to shrink a lot, that you should have made it bigger." He accepted it from her and studied it closely, as if looking for some proof that it wasn't his work. "Don't feel too bad. The first thing I made in pottery was supposed to be a tea cup for my grandfather. It's so small, he couldn't even use it as a shot glass."

He chuckled and the sound sent a shiver down the miko's spine as the hair on the back of her neck stood on end. He needed to make that sound more often! Or maybe not. It was a dangerous sound that had her on the verge of melting and giving up all efforts to hide her growing feelings.

"Shall we pick our glazes now?" he asked, snapping her out of the daze his laugh had put her in.

She nodded and they both set their projects on their work table. Kagome then showed him to where the glazes were kept and they made their selections. Once they were seated, she gave him a quick rundown of glazing procedure, how to do it without leaving fingerprints or getting it all over his hands. They worked in silence for a few minutes before Kagome spoke.

"So, besides it being smaller than you planned, what do you think of it?" she asked, honestly curious.

Sesshoumaru studied his creation from all sides before nodding. "I still like it. I have never made something with my own two hands before."

"And?"

"I quite enjoyed it," he confessed.

"So, what are you going to do with it?"

"Hnn," he murmured as he thought. "It was supposed to be a cereal bowl, but now, perhaps maybe a place to put pocket change."

Kagome couldn't help but laugh, the sound going right to his heart, making it thump harder in his chest. "Sounds like a plan, and maybe next time you'll listen when I tell you it needs to be bigger."

"Maybe."

-

As soon as Sesshoumaru sat down for lunch, Kouga slid a piece of paper across the table. "I had my sister copy it for me. I figured more feminine handwriting couldn't hurt."

The taiyoukai nodded, examining the letter he now held. "Hopefully this will do the trick."

-

Kagome watched in barely veiled awe as Sesshoumaru auditioned for a part in the upcoming play. She'd never imagined he would take it so far. Being in drama class was one thing. It hadn't necessarily damaged his reputation too badly, but actually being in a play... he was opening himself up to ridicule usually reserved for the hardcore drama geeks.

Suddenly, she was looking at everything a little differently. There was no way he would do something so drastic, that required such a large commitment of time and energy, just to trick her into liking him, would he? The worst part was he was good! Ever since his second class, when he'd recited 'Romeo and Juliet' like a pro, he'd only gotten better. She had never expected him to actually want to act, especially not in front of the whole school!

Maybe this wasn't all a setup. Maybe he really was in her classes because he wanted to be and not so that he could manipulate her into falling for him. It dawned on her then, just how self-absorbed she sounded, thinking that he would change his entire schedule just to get closer to her. She'd always thought he was the conceited one, but now she was embarrassed. How could she have ever thought she was important enough for him to have taken such drastic action? She was a fool.

The director would have to be a moron not to give him the part. Not only was he incredible, but his name alone would bring in the crowds. Ticket sales helped fund the drama department and with Sesshoumaru on stage, sales would go through the roof. She only hoped that if he did get the part, he wouldn't back down when the taunting began. Of course, maybe he would be immune. Half the student body adored him while the other half feared him. Maybe they wouldn't dare tease him, for fear of retribution.

The applause filling the auditorium was deafening and Kagome found herself clapping as well. He deserved it. His performance had been magnificent. He had even completely memorized his passage instead of relying on the script like everyone else.

Kagome swallowed hard. Her audition was tomorrow and she was nowhere near as prepared, even though she'd run lines with Inuyasha the night before. At least she wasn't competing against Sesshoumaru for a part. He was guaranteed the lead and the miko felt a little surge of jealousy for whatever girl got to play the female lead across from him.

-

By the time Sesshoumaru reached Journalism class, Kagome was fully focused on her keyboard, working on a feature article she'd just gotten approved. He walked past her desk, waiting to see if she would notice him before dropping a sheet of paper in their inbox. They would be picking letters to answer tomorrow. Today he had some research to do for his own article. He took his seat beside her, breathing in her sweet scent, and pulled out his own laptop to get to work.

-

"You should have seen him, Inu. He was amazing! There is no way he's not getting the lead. I'm just surprised he auditioned at all. I never pegged him for a drama geek."

"He's really into it. He spent all night last night reading that same fucking paragraph over and over until Dad made him go to his room," Inuyasha replied while rolling his eyes.

Kagome laughed. "Well, after that torture I guess I owe you a serious thanks for helping me rehearse again. I really wanna nail it tomorrow."

Inuyasha smirked wickedly. "Any special reason why? I see you've changed your mind about transferring out."

The miko smacked his arm playfully. "Actually, the counselor told me it was impossible this late in the semester without getting incompletes in both the class I'm leaving and the class I'm starting. Getting away from your brother is not worth not graduating with my friends."

"And the play? Are you sure it isn't because you want to play his love interest?"

Kagome growled rather well for a human and stomped on his foot. "No! It has nothing to do with him," she lied. She knew very well that it was a part of her desire to get a major role, but it wasn't the only reason. "This is going to be my last high school production. It would be nice to have a main role. You know, go out on top."

"Ouch, babe, that hurt!"

"Yeah, yeah. Stop messing with me and I'll stop hurting you."

Inuyasha laughed. "Not my fault you're falling for Sesshoumaru. Besides, you've never practiced this much before an audition and you always get a big part. That's why I think you're trying so hard, because you know all the other girls are going to bring their A games, hoping to act opposite him."

"Aww, screw them. They're all air heads anyway. I deserve the lead."

"Yes," he said with a smile, "and you're going to get it. And then..." he started, flipping through the script he'd skimmed last night. He found the page he was looking for and held it up for her examination. "Then you're going to have to kiss him."

Kagome's face flushed a brilliant red and she snatched the packet out of his hands. "Oh, crap. I forgot all about that. Maybe... maybe I shouldn't audition after all."

Inuyasha sighed and elbowed her playfully. "No, you have to, remember? This is your last high school production. It's not like kissing him would be torture, considering how you feel about him."

The miko's eye twitched and Inuyasha quickly leapt to the other side of the room. "You either need to shut up about your brother right now or get out. I am tired of listening to your mouth. I refuse to have feelings for him. I will stand my ground, stick to my ideals. I would never date such a pretentious jerk and kissing him might as well be torture, if only because it's going to make every girl in the school hate me!"

"Fine, fine, Kags, but at some point you're going to have to stop lying to yourself. I promise you, the last thing Sesshoumaru wants is to hurt you." When she shot him a vicious glare, he only sighed. "What page were we on again?"