InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ I'm Teaching Myself To Dream ❯ The Art of Dating ( Chapter 11 )

I'm Teaching Myself To Dream

Disclaimer: Don't own Takanaka, Inuyasha, Coke or any of the songs, lyrics, music, all songs are work done by geniuses who I think are awesome, so please, don't sue me…

As you all know, I recently put this story on hiatus while my computer was down and I was saving up for a new one… I'm lucky to say that someone fixed my computer without having to get a new one… Therefore, I'm still saving up for my own laptop ^___^… But hopefully, before I get the laptop, I'll be able to buy my baby (My wonderful HP 1350 scanner that I am obsessed and in love with)! And on top of that, I have to get my PhotoShop because I can't download anything from Kazaa anymore… AND MY TRIP TO JAPAN! I'm broke! I need money! If you take any of the money that I have so far (currently just enough for my laptop-Thank you Christmas money)… >.< I will NOT be pleased… And believe me… All the readers of this story won't be either… *laughs evilly* Note: This isn't a really exciting chapter… -____- And sorry if the ending seems a little rushed… I was around 17 pages long… 0.0 …

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I'm Teaching Myself To Dream

Chapter 11: The Art of Dating

"Come on Leo!" Kagome yelled as she ran down the stairs. "We gotta get going!" Kagome was dressed and ready to go. She had cleaned up the mess from her closet and unpacked. She didn't feel like sleeping though, so she skipped the nap.

She stepped off into the kitchen and headed for Leo's room. Leo's room was pretty quiet. Kagome walked down the hall until she came to the door. "Leo?" She asked. "You in there?" She opened the door and looked inside. Nothing but an empty room. It was kind of cluttered, but it wasn't the mess Kagome remembered seeing in her brother's room.

She hadn't seen Souta in months. She missed him a lot, and now she was finally going to get to see him again. She smiled as she turned around in the hallway and went to check the living room. Once again it was empty. Kagome sighed as she went to check the back porch. She went in through the kitchen, and then to the wooden deck through the sliding door. She stood on the deck looking around but didn't find him. She stepped back inside, carefully closing the sliding door behind her.

`Where the heck is he?' She walked back through the kitchen into the living room. She continued walking, passing the digital clock that read "11:45" until she came to the front door. She pressed the button on the handle of the screen door and opened it. Then she turned the know of the wooden that you would see from outside the house. She opened that door and stepped out on the little stone stairs that lead to the driveway.

Leo was in the driveway by the car, wearing blue swimming trunks, and tying down the surfboards to the top. It was an old car, not an ugly rusty kind of thing, but it wasn't too pretty. It was the car that the two had before Kagome was rich and famous. When they worked for Tachi (Leo still worked part-time there) and they hung out at Carmen's Coffee Shop. The car was pretty old, but the two didn't want to get a new one. For many reasons. They didn't want to sell it because there were a lot of memories in that thing, and besides, if they were to get a new car, it couldn't be too fancy. If it was, people might find out where Kagome was. She was supposed to be keeping a low profile here. The last reason was that, despite how rich Kagome was, it was just too much work to buy a car right now.

"I was looking for you." Kagome said as she walked down the steps to the car. "I was beginning to think that you weren't going to go." She said.

"Me?" Leo said. "You know me better than anyone, I don't miss any opportunity to go surfing." Kagome smiled.

"Yeah, I guess so." She walked over to the passenger side of the car and got in.

Leo finished up with the surfboards before getting in himself.

"Kay, let's go." Leo said as he put the key in the ignition and put the car in gear. He pressed a pedal with his foot and the car started to move. Leo drove the car slowly down the driveway, looked to the right for cars and when all he saw was an empty street, he turned right and headed off in the direction of the North shore. Not the tourist part of the beach and not the section where all the restaurants were located. Leo started driving to the part of the beach where it was only for surfing. No lifeguards, no rules, just a beach. A regular beach that was just ten minutes away, with white sand, and an ocean just as big as the sky itself.

Leo and Kagome didn't talk the way there. They just thought about things. Leo was thinking about Eric and Kagome, and what things were going to be like with their friends again. Kagome was thinking about what she had been thinking about all morning. How to get him out of her head. But now, she knew what she needed to do, and she was a lot happier than she was this morning.

^_^

Leo's car pulled up under the palm trees. Because this section of the beach wasn't supposed to attract tourists, the town didn't put in a parking lot. So the surfers had to make due with what was there. A bunch of shady palm trees the provided a roof to block out the sun for the cars. There were already three cars there under the trees, all of them old and not too pretty. There were five people out on the ocean, all with surfboards. And at the moment there were two guys surfing. The other three were waiting at the lineup for their turn.

"Ready?" Leo asked.

"Yep." Kagome said simply.

Leo and Kagome got out of the car. Kagome helped Leo untie the surfboards from the top of the car, and then grabbed her own.

Leo's board was a silver shortboard that he had had for a year. Kagome's board had a "old but good" late 70's design. It was a 6' long white Hawaiian Sled, with a line going down from the nose to the tail and the line grew larger at the nose. The line was light blue and inside the line were dark blue Hawaiian flowers.

"Looks like the guys were one step ahead of us." Leo commented as he threw the rope and bungee cords in the backseat of the car. Leo and Kagome took off the shorts that they had been wearing over their bathing suits and threw that in the backseat as well.

"Guess so." Said Kagome. "Shall we?" Kagome picked up he board horizontally and waited for Leo.

"Let's go." Leo finished and locked up the car. He grabbed his board and the two walked in the direction of the beach.

As they walked off in silence, someone on the lineup turned around and noticed them.

"Hey guys!" shouted a girl with blonde hair and blue-green eyes. She was about the same height as Kagome.

"Hey!" The two teenagers shouted in unison.

All the others on the lineup turned around to see the two teens walking toward.

"Look who showed up." Said a guy with blonde hair and green eyes. He had an average build, not totally buff, but not scrawny either.

"Nice to see you too, Mace." Kagome said in a less than enthusiastic tone.

The first person was Missy. Missy is a spunky surfer girl that never backs down from a challenge. This can usually cause some problems… She loves to party and have fun, she doesn't let anyone get in her way or put her down, unless of course, it has something to do with Mace. The thing you remember most about her is that she doesn't let things bother her easily, and she always sticks up for her friends. She lives in a fairly big apartment with her and Kagome's friends, Krystal, Mele, Amy, and Ashley. They all split the rent except for Ashley, who was exactly like Jake. The total beach bum/party animal that doesn't pay rent… This also usually causes a problem… Missy has been seeing the same guy since she was sixteen, now nineteen. His name was Mace.

Mace had green eyes and blonde hair. Missy and Mace get into a lot of fights, but he's romantic, and he always apologizes and makes it up to her, even if it wasn't his fault. He was a generally funny guy, even if he wasn't the brightest.

"We were beginning to think you weren't gonna show up." Mace called.

"Us?" Leo said. "You're kidding right?" Leo shook his head.

"I don't know, you guys might be too good for us now. You're guys' heads seem bigger… Must be from all that star treatment…" A girl next to Missy and Mace joked; her name was Krystal. Krystal had beach blonde hair, blue eyes and was very tan. She LOVES beating the guys at pretty much anything… Volleyball, pool, arcade games, video games, poker, you name it. She can't stand it when people think less of her because she's a girl, and she likes to show people she's just as good as anyone else, especially the guys. She absolutely hates it when the other local guys don't let her surf, and then loves to see their faces when she takes a giant wave that the guys wiped out on. She lives in a fairly big apartment with Missy, Erin, Amy, and Ashley. All pay rent except for Ashley, and they nag her about it all the time.

"Very funny." Kagome smiled. Kagome and Leo reached the water and stepped in. They walked out until they were waist-deep before hopping on their boards. They paddled out into the lineup.

"Where are the others?" Kagome said as she paddled out on the waves. "I see Matt and Chad are out there, but where's everybody else?"

Krystal looked at Kagome as she and Leo got themselves balanced on their boards.

"Last we knew, Ashley was asleep." She said.

"Figures." Leo commented.

"Jake… well… Let's just say, he's got a little headache from last night…" Krystal tilted her head to the side.

"Well, that's Jake for you." Kagome commented. "But what about Mele?"

"She left about an hour ago." Mace said.

"Already?" Kagome asked. "When did you guys get here?"

"Around two hours ago." Said Missy.

"And she left after an hour? Unbelievable." Kagome scoffed.

"She had to go to work or something." Missy told her. "She said something about her boss being a sexist creep that made her go to work early just because of her gender."

"Where does she work now? Is she still at the McDonalds? Or did she get fired… again?" Leo asked.

"Fired… again. She works at some new restaurant… Forgot its name though…" Missy said.

"How did that happen?" Kagome asked. "How did she get fired again, I mean."

"Oh, just the usual." Krystal explained. "She was taking orders from a guy who was being extra picky. She was running out of supplies, getting yelled at by her boss, again, and the guy was getting on her nerves. She gave guy this giant lecture on how men were only put on the Earth to annoy the dominant species of women, and that they are the worst scum of the planet before throwing his breakfast through the window into the empty backseat, and spilling hot coffee on his crotch."

Kagome and Leo stared at him blankly for a moment, before both mumbling sentences under their breaths on how that sounded like Mele.

Mele was a tough tomboy with thick, black, curly hair. She has brown eyes and is very pretty. When of her worst qualities is that she's very cynical when it comes to men. A lot of guys like her, but it's hopeless. She won't let any guy tell her what she can and can't do or be. She doesn't mind when she gets in trouble, and she's known to be a bit of a daredevil. Her favorite hobbies included surfing, playing pranks on the guys and making some mischief. Despite how she seemed to be a magnet for getting fired, she was very reliable when it comes to money and rent. Even though she gets fired numerous times, she always pays the rent for the apartment she shares with Missy, Krystal, Amy, and Ashley.

"Anyway, Eric isn't here yet. We didn't get a call from him telling us when he'd come though." Said Missy.

"No, I saw him at Mrs. D's, he said he'd get off around noon." Kagome said.

"So that's why you didn't come until now?" She asked while everyone looked at Kagome. Kagome just shrugged.

Kagome looked out at Matt and the guy that was coming back with her from the waves. Matt and the other guy, Chad, noticed her and Leo and waved. Kagome and Leo waved back.

"Alright babe, our turn." Said Mace as he looked at Missy and nodded towards the waves. Missy nodded in return and paddled out with Mace to the waves.

Kagome and the others watched them paddle out before standing up on their board and starting to surf.

"Aloha peoples!" Said the guy. "Well if it isn't the hotshot superstar." He looked at Kagome. The guy, Chad, had blond hair, brown eyes, and a tattoo of a dragon on his left shoulder. He is a VERY competitive guy. He usually likes to challenge Missy, Krystal, and Mele. The bad thing about him is that he doesn't know when to shut up, and it usually gets him into trouble. He secretly has a crush on Mele, but with her attitude towards men, she'd sooner be eaten by a shark then date him.

The other guy, Matt, was a Hawaiian-tanned teen that had black hair and really dark brown eyes, as if they were black. He had an average height and a strong build. Everyone in town knew him as the most serious surfer, who dreamed of being sponsored to surf around the world. He was always constantly in competitions and tournaments trying to get discovered.

"Yep, that would be me." Kagome nodded slowly, biting her lip and looking very annoyed.

"Hey," Krystal started. "I know you this isn't exactly the best real conversation to start your vacation with, and probably don't want to talk about the whole singing thing because it IS your vacation," She said. "And I know you've probably heard this about a million times now," She went on, paddling up to Kagome's left, Leo was on Kagome's Right. "But um," She swallowed. "Dumb question, I know, but…" She paused. "What's it like to be the most famous person in three continents?"

Kagome laughed half-heartedly.

"It's… okay, I guess." She shrugged. She had said the same thing to Eric that morning, and everyone gave her the same reaction. She said she wanted to talk about it when everyone was around but not everyone was around. Mace and Missy weren't there, they were out on the waves. Eric wasn't there…

Everyone but Leo stared at her. Leo had been traveling around with her, and he saw the whole experience the same way she did. Well, except for the occasional things like how she ate cereal when she had enough money to buy the cereal factory… He always thought that was funny…

"It's… okay?" Matt asked. Paddling around to face Kagome.

"Well," Kagome said while Chad paddled towards Kagome also. Everyone got closer to Kagome and formed a circle, with all attention focused on her. "You know it's better than okay…" She said. "I mean, come on, I'm on a Coke can for crying out loud… I'm on one of the billboards in Time Square… It's just…" Kagome trailed off.

"Just what?" Krystal asked.

"I don't know…" Kagome said. "A little much?" Kagome shrugged. She didn't know how to put it. "Yeah, I get publicity and recognition, that's for sure. And I have to admit the whole-" Kagome shrugged. "Running like prey from the press and fans was really fun at first-"

"Good times." Leo nodded and smiled.

Everyone looked at Leo, then back at Kagome.

"Nothing, just… One day me and Leo went to McDonalds for food." Kagome smiled, having the memories of that eventful day come back to her.

"Well, what we went for was food, what we ended up with was running from a stampede of rabid-wannabe-stalker-fans…" Leo said. "It was scary how determined they were to find her, even when we hid in the dumpsters." Kagome laughed in the background. "They weren't really good times, but they are something we'll definitely never forget."

"Definitely." Kagome said. "I didn't get that rotten lettuce smell off for days." Kagome closed her eyes for a moment as she remembered the horrible hours in the shower trying to get the revolting scent out of her hair. "Anyway," she continued. "Don't get me wrong, there's a million perks to being famous… Like I have to tell you that," She added. "But, everything just kind of… piles up." She said.

"Piles… up?" Chad asked.

"Well, yeah." Kagome replied. "Everything just starts to get old. Fame is definitely overrated. It's nothing like the movies." She said.

"Kay guys!" Mace yelled off in the distance. "Your turn!" Missy and Mace began paddling back to the little circle that everyone was now in.

"That's our cue." Leo turned his board towards the waves.

"Finally." Kagome said as she did the same. The two teens paddled out to the waves.

Meanwhile, Missy and Mace paddled back into the little "circle."

"So?" Mace asked to anyone who was willing to reply. He paddled over to Krystal. "Whadja talk about?"

"Nothing really." Krystal answered. "Just that Mele got fired again, and a little about her being famous." She paused. "And… I don't know… She didn't say anything directly… But I think there's something going on between her and…" She trailed off.

"You noticed it too?" Missy asked relieved. "Thank God, I thought it was just me."

"What are you guys talking about?" Matt asked, totally confused. "Did I miss something here?"

"Her and Eric!" Missy said a little too loud, but luckily Leo nor Kagome heard. "Her and Eric!" She said a little more quietly.

"What?" The guys said in unison.

"That's Crazy!" Mace said. "There's no way. They don't like like each other… They just like each other!"

"Not from the way we see it!" Krystal said defensively. "There's no reason why they wouldn't!"

"But how can you tell?" Matt asked disbelieving. "Eric's not even here!"

"So?" Missy said. "We don't need him to be here to get a vibe from Kagome."

"No, I'm not gonna believe it…" Mace said. "It's just too weird! Having two of our friends date."

Missy and Krystal gave him an irritated look.

"What?" Mace asked.

"We're dating." Missy said annoyed.

"That's different." Mace said.

"How?" Krystal asked.

"It's us!" He said. "We're talking about Eric and Kagome here!" He continued. "Two people we've known forever, who before today have never been said to like each other!"

"So?" Missy said. "Things change."

"I still don't think it's possible." Said Chad.

"And why not?" Krystal asked.

"I just never thought they were each other's type…" He replied.

"Why would that be?" Missy said. "Eric is a good looking guy, Kagome is a good looking girl."

"Eric is popular, Kagome is popular… in three continents…" Krystal added as an after thought.

"They're both single, lonely, have a good sense of humor, love to surf-" Missy said.

"Love the ocean." Krystal interrupted. "And personally, I think they have great chemistry."

"How's that?" Mace asked. "They're both out of school." Mace asked confused.

"Not science chemistry… chemistry chemistry!" Missy said annoyed. He was never the brightest one…

"They could've liked each other this whole time," Krystal said. "Right under our very own noses, and we didn't even see it! I can't believe we never noticed before…" She said dumbfounded.

"Noticed what?" Chad said. "How do you even know that you didn't misinterpret what Kagome or Leo said?" He paused. "What did they even say?"

"Kagome asked where the others were." Missy explained. "We told her about Mele and Ashley not being able to be here. Then we said we didn't know when Eric was going to be here." She continued. "Then she said that she saw him earlier today at Mrs. D's," She paused for dramatic effect. "And that he wouldn't be off until noon…"

The guys stared at her blankly.

"What time is it now?" Missy asked irritated. "Around NOON!" She said. "She got here around the time that Eric was supposed to come!"

"That doesn't mean anything!" Matt exclaimed. "For all we know she could've just been too tired to come until now!" He said. "Or maybe she was unpacking! Or doing something!" He said.

The girls scoffed irritably.

"You guys are so blind not to see it!" Missy complained.

"See what?" Mace asked. "There's nothing going on between Eric and Kagome!"

"We beg to differ!" Krystal said defensively.

"Unbelievable!" Chad sighed. "Okay, you know what? Wait until Eric gets here, if something happens to prove you guys right, then I'll be convinced. Not before."

"Suit yourself." Missy said. "But we don't need Eric around to get the feeling from Kagome." She looked at Krystal. "Right Krystal?"

But Krystal wasn't paying attention anymore. Instead she was looking out on the shore where a green car had just pulled up. Missy turned her gaze in that direction, as well as the others.

"Well," Said Mace. "Speak of the devil."

The used Mitsubishi Outlander pulled up underneath the towering palm trees along with all the other cars. On top was a red shortboard tied down with bungee cords and a rope. The car was fairly clean, give or take a couple of dirt spots on the hood of the car. And inside, was none other than Eric Olsen himself.

He got out of the car, dressed in black swimming trunks before tossing his keys inside on the driver's seat and untying his surfboard from the roof. After that, he threw the rope and bungee cords inside the car, and closed the door. As he started walking over the white sand towards the beach, he spotted the gang looking at him. Why he didn't know, but he guessed he would find out sooner or later. He raised up a hand to wave at them, and they did they same. Then he saw Missy turn to Krystal, which made Eric look at her funny. Although he had no idea what was being said as he reached the shore, he guessed it had something to do with why they were being so weird.

"Here, now we'll see what's going on." Missy said to the others.

"Yeah, once we ask Eric, we'll see what's really happening." Chad said.

"You can't just ask him if he likes her or not!" Krystal said loudly, but still quiet enough so Eric or the others surfing couldn't hear.

"Are you insane?" Missy asked. "That's not how it works!"

"Why not?" Matt asked. "We'll just ask him if he likes her and-voila! We'll know the answer!"

"It doesn't work that way!" Missy said.

"Why not?" Mace asked.

"Because he's a guy!" The girls said in unison.

"What that's got to do with anything?" The guys asked confused.

"He's not gonna tell us his true feelings! He'll deny it and change the subject!" Krystal said.

"Not all guys are like that though!" Mace said defensively.

"You were." Missy said annoyed.

"As in past tense." Mace said.

"Because you had something to be threatened by-"

"Threatened-"

"Yes threatened! Now, you have nothing to be threatened by!" Missy said annoyed while Mace was still trying to comprehend. "Eric telling his true feelings could ruin many relationships, not just his own with Kagome, but with Leo as well." Missy explained.

"And then Leo's and Kagome's relationship might change, Eric's relationship with us might change. Plus he might go through things that make him worry about rejection, and if not rejection at first, then heartbreak and arguments later." Krystal said.

"There's a lot on the line, here." Missy said.

The guys just stared blankly.

"I never even thought about stuff like that…" Matt said dumbfounded.

"I'm surprised your heads haven't exploded yet…" said Chad.

"No wonder girls are always such drama queens…"

"DRAMA QUEENS?" Krystal and Missy asked annoyed.

Eric, who was now twenty feet away from the line-up, heard that last sentence crystal clear. He didn't know what was going on, but he wasn't exactly sure if he wanted to know…

^_^

Kagome paddled out and turned her board around, waiting for a wave. The second wave of the sets today was looking the best, so she let the first wave pass. The waves were okay today, not perfect, but it was the sandbar they were surfing on, not the big one's down at pipe. Those were too crowded today, as it said on the radio, so they headed to the smaller surfing spot that only locals knew about.

While she waited for the second wave that was to come in about three seconds, she thought about Eric.

She had a crush on him at one time, before him. But after the well, she didn't ever really think about it at anymore after that. When she did have a crush on him however, she remembered how she hated being involved in his relationships. She never really showed her twinge of jealousy, if she did, no one ever mentioned it, but she felt it all right. It wasn't the kind of jealousy that he would have when Kouga was around, the kind that could send him on a rampage. Which reminded her, whatever did happen to Kouga?

She thought for a second, while waiting for the wave, which was taking longer than she thought. He probably married Ayame or something. Whatever happened, she hoped the gang had defeated Naraku and lived happily ever after. She hoped that Kouga gave up his shards and settled down with Ayame and his pack somewhere. She hoped that Naraku died, and Miroku's hand lost its hole. And that Miroku finally confessed his feelings to Sango. She could just imagine what their future would be like. One day Sango would come up behind Miroku and whisper in his ear the two most frightening, yet happy words he would ever hear. "I'm pregnant."

Kagome laughed at the thought. Miroku's dream, or worst nightmare for that matter, becoming reality. She hoped that they took Shippo in, or at least Kaede took him in, and he found some vixen he liked. She hoped Sango and Miroku lived out their lives happily, not ever having to worry about Miroku's life shortening because of the wind tunnel, or Naraku, or demons for that matter. In some, slim possibility, she wished that Kohaku would be alright, and that he would be able to live with his sister and brother-in-law without the cursed jewel shard embedded in his body. She wished them all a happy ending, without pain or suffering…

She wished that he would be happy too…

That's all she really ever wanted… For him to be happy. She wished, believe it or not, that he would go down into hell with Kikyou, so he could be with his true love for all eternity. There they would stay until the end of time. And despite the pain and torture of the underworld, they would be together. That's what they really wanted right?

She wished she could've seen how their story ended. Read through the chapters of their life like a fantasy tale.

But they were just wishes, only hopes.

The second wave finally came after ten seconds, and Kagome paddled forward as fast as she could, in order to catch it. When she had made it over the lip, she snapped up and put her left foot out in front of her, balancing herself.

She turned left as the lip began to curl, creating the face, and she reached out her left hand to touch the water and keep herself steady. Bending down lower in order to stay out of the way of the face, she dropped her leg down into the water momentarily, as the wave set itself up. The wave turned into a barrel, the hollow-faced wave that everyone loved to ride.

The one she caught was especially good, it covered her from the outside but was still big enough so that it didn't turn into a clamshell. She glided through the exceptionally long barrel, holding her left hand out all the while.

It was so peaceful in the barrel. Being surrounded completely by the blue substance just made you think. All your troubles melted away down into the crystal walls and the emotions bouncing around inside of you swirled around in the waves. One minute in the barrel and you're blocked off from the whole world, everything that's bothering you, making you feel hurt, and then in an instant, you're out of the barrel, and the world is back. The drama of the world circles around you, the problems begin to crash down on you, and the emotions that were so peaceful, so calm, are gone and the much more painful emotions return and bring the conflicts back with them.

That's what happened to Kagome. When she was in the barrel, her thoughts only focused on how much she missed surfing and her friends. Her thoughts about him, and Eric were temporarily forgotten. Then as soon as she came out of the barrel, the first thought that popped in her head was how much she wanted that wave to have been longer, because now she would have to face the world. She'd have to figure out whether Eric really liked her or if they would go on a date. She'd have to leave this little slice of paradise that she called home in a month, leaving the healing waves behind, and the fresh, salty air, and that's only if the press didn't find out where she was first.

Then she'd have to face Takanaka and Sheryl about the tour. From there she'd travel the world, singing and dancing, making so much money that she didn't even know what to do with it. Having mansions in different countries, in different continents, making more albums, doing more photo shoots, talking on more talk shows, and seeing her face plastered on buildings everywhere she went…

But is that what she really wanted? Her dream as young girl was to become famous and sing. But now, did she really want everything that went with it? She didn't want the fame as much as she wanted someone to share it with… She loved Leo like a brother, but it wasn't the same as having someone to really love…

And what was wrong with Eric? Nothing really. Why hadn't she really loved him before? Because she was too confused about her feelings for him? Because she was just too blind to see how great Eric really was? Or was it just that she never thought he had any actual feelings for the small town surfer girl at all?

She liked Eric. She liked Eric a lot. Even liked him enough to date him. The only problem was, did he like her?

Kagome squatted down on her surfboard before laying down her stomach and paddling out of the way of the waves. She got over to a nearby channel, that was relatively deep where the waves didn't normally break. From her little spot she sat up, balanced on the board and dangling her legs in the water, she watched Leo take his wave. He also caught the second wave of a new set, and the barrel he caught was even longer than hers.

She wondered about what Leo was thinking in the barrel. Or what anyone else thought while in the tunnel, especially Eric. What emotions did everyone else spill out over the crystal walls? What problems did they have that they let the wave absorb? These were the things that made her love the ocean so much.

It made you wonder… Made you question things. It made you think and want and desire. It took all your troubles away for a moment before making reality crash down on you twice as hard, making you realize that you were never really gone from reality… But then again, you're not in the real world now… Nor a surreal world… It was all in your head… And if your mind wanted to live out a dream, then it would send you to the waves. The ocean would call you in that mysterious way it has, and no matter how hard you tried not to, you would answer. It was an addiction that no one who had ever answered the call could escape. And yet no one ever wanted to.

When Leo exited the wave, also holding out his left hand for balance, he squatted down on his board before lying down on his stomach and paddling in her direction. Kagome waited patiently as he paddled over to her.

"All right, let's go back." Kagome said as Leo paddled up to her. Kagome laid back down on her stomach as she and Leo paddled back over to the line-up.

When they reached the line-up, they saw Eric sitting among their friends. Eric instantly caught sight of the two and waved. Kagome and Leo did the same.

"Hey, you finally got here." Leo told Eric.

"Yep, but suddenly wishing I hadn't." Eric said nodding to Krystal and Missy. Both girls were turned away from the guys, with their arms crossed and their eyes closed.

`They look an awful lot like him…' Kagome thought awkwardly.

"Why?" Kagome asked, paddling over next to Eric along with Leo.

"I guess I got here in the middle of another one of Missy and Mace's fights." He shrugged. "Just my luck."

"We are not talking to the spineless creep who only think of us as emotionally unstable, overactive drama queens prancing around wearing tiaras." Missy said.

"I never said that!" Mace said defensively.

Kagome looked questioningly at Eric.

"Don't ask me," He whispered. "I have no idea what's going on."

Kagome, Leo, and Eric looked at Matt and Chad for answers, but they weren't much help. All they did was shrug and rest their elbows on their thighs, which was holding up their heads. They looked very bored.

"Please tell the arrogant creep that we are not in the mood to deal with his accusations." Krystal said coldly.

"What did I say?" Mace asked.

Kagome and the others watched the argument play out like a tennis game.

"We are not speaking to the creep at this time, please tell him that have had enough waves for one day, and that we are now going home." Missy said casually.

"What did I do?" Mace asked, he clearly had no idea what happened.

"Bye guys." Krystal said simply as the she and Missy paddled out to the shore, never once looking back.

Kagome would have usually complained that the girls had only seen her for the last thirty minutes, but considering the mood they were in, she didn't want to get them mad at her too.

Mace was definitely confused and had no idea what he was supposed to do, but since everyone was now looking at him, and he didn't want to look anymore like an idiot, he yelled out to them:

"FINE!" He shouted. "Go home! SEE IF I CARE!"

`Okay,' Kagome thought. `Now this definitely reminds me of him…'

"What happened?" She asked Mace.

"How am I supposed to know?" Mace said crossing his arms. "I don't even know what I did to make her mad!" He said angrily.

"Have you tried asking her?" Eric asked as he and the others watched one of the cars pull out from underneath the palm trees and drive off into the street.

"Already did." Mace said. "She won't answer. She won't even say a word to me."

"Have you tried…apologizing?" Kagome asked.

"For what?" Mace asked. "I don't even know what I did!" He stared at the spot where Missy and Krystal's car just was. "And besides, I'm not the one who should apologize! I'm always apologizing for stuff, why should I always take the blame?"

"Well, maybe this time she's mad at you because it was your fault." Matt said bored.

"I don't even know what I did!" He said defensively. He looked down at his waterproof watch, then sighed. "I have to go get ready for work anyway. See ya guys later." He said as he paddled off.

"Mace!" Eric called.

"Come on!" Leo yelled. "We just got here!"

"Sorry guys." Mace called as he paddled out towards his car.

"You know," Chad said. "I'm not really up to surfing anymore anyway." He said as he started to paddle to shore.

"Come on Chad!" Kagome said.

"Sorry." He called back. "You coming Matt?"

The others looked at Matt.

"Nah," He replied. "I got a tournament in a month. I'll just get a ride home with Eric!" He called. "That is okay, right?" He turned to Eric.

"Yeah." Eric replied.

"Okay then, see you guys later!" Chad called, as he was halfway to shore.

"Unbelievable." Leo scoffed.

Kagome turned back towards the waves.

It took all your troubles away for a moment before making reality crash down on you twice as hard…

"Perfect." Kagome mumbled. "Just perfect."

Eric turned followed Kagome's gaze out to the waves.

"We better surf before the waves get mushy." Eric said.

"Yeah." Kagome said. "You haven't had any yet, so you can have the next one."

"Alright then." He said as he paddled out.

^_^

The gang had surfed for a half an hour before things started to loosen up again. The previous little incident with Missy and Mace's relationship was forgotten as the waves got higher and the barrels got longer.

Kagome had forgotten all her problems about dating, the tour, and him, as she turned back into the small town surfer girl (despite the size of the town) who just wanted to have fun. During the next half-hour, the only things that were on her mind was trying not to wipe out and how much she loved Hawaii.

Eric realized just how much he had missed Kagome and Leo, and how bad he wished they could just stay in Oahu. He was happy for Kagome. After all, she was living her dream, but still he wished that he got to see her more often. It didn't seem fair to him that Leo got to be with Kagome when she was out on the road, but then again, he was her best friend, and did almost everything together.

Things were finally starting to look up, until Matt took on a particularly big wave, and broke the nose off his board.

"I can't believe it." Said to the others on the shore. Matt bent over ant picked up the nose of his board that had washed up on the beach. "Didn't look like that big a wave."

Kagome laughed a little as she walked up to Matt on the beach, her own surfboard with her, still in one piece.

"Figures, doesn't it?" She said.

"How does it look?" Eric asked Leo, who was eyeing the board.

"Pretty bad." He said not too happily.

"You have others though, right?" Kagome asked.

"Yeah," Matt said. "I was hoping to use this in the tournament though."

"I definitely doubt there's a chance that it can be fixed but I can try it… There's no guarantee though…" Leo said.

"That's alright." Matt said. "Just come over sometime and bring some of your stuff with you."

"Well, I have my stuff in the trunk." Leo said. "I'll just come over now." Leo said. "Kagome, you'll have to ride home with Eric though." He said looking at the two.

"Not a problem." Kagome shook her head a little. "Is it?" She turned to Eric.

"Why would it be?" He asked, and Kagome just shrugged.

"Okay, then." Matt went over to Leo and Kagome's car and put his broken surfboard pieces in the backseat.

They all put on the shorts over they're bathing suits before tying down their boards. Matt helped Leo tie down his surfboard to the roof, before they dried most of the water off themselves with a towel, and got into the car. They said goodbye to Eric and Kagome before driving off in the direction of Matt and Eric's apartment.

Meanwhile, Eric and Kagome tied down their own surfboards to the roof of his car. They talked about things they used to while doing so, such as Missy and Mace's relationship and Carmen's Coffee Shop, and Mrs. D's deli.

They talked about how it was amazing that Missy and Mace were still together after all this time, and the little arguments they always have. During one point of the conversation, Kagome thought about him, and how maybe things would've turned out differently, had the well not sealed, but she was quickly snapped out of her daze when Eric asked her what she was thinking about.

"Oh nothing." Kagome said.

"Didn't look like nothing." He said. "You kind of spaced out there."

"No, it's just something stupid, really." Kagome said.

"Alright then." Eric said. He finished drying himself off before handing the towel over to Kagome. Kagome did the same and then hopped in the passenger side of the Mitsubishi. Eric got in the driver's seat, put the key in ignition and started the car.

On the ten-minute drive back to Kagome's house, she and Eric continued talking about everything they used to when she lived a normal life. Or at least as normal as life could be when she was still trying to get over a certain hanyou…

"You know I thought that once I got back to Oahu," Kagome said. "Things would be less dramatic." Eric laughed a little. "I don't know where I got that idea from."

"I don't either." Eric said.

"Have they been fighting anymore than usual?" She asked.

"Who?" Eric asked.

"Missy and Mace?" Kagome asked. "I know they fight a lot, but, anymore than usual?"

"No, not really." He said. "Why?" He looked at her for a second, before returning his gaze to the road in front of him.

"I don't know." Kagome said. "I just feel like I'm missing so much… I know Leo feels the same way." She said. "I wouldn't blame him if he didn't come back with me on tour." She said.

"So you are going to take it?" He asked.

"Well…" She said. "Part of me just wants to tell Takanaka and Sheryl to shove it (insert Eric's laughter here), but then Sheryl'd probably faint, and Takanaka have a heart attack and sue me… Plus, I kind of want to take it, just to see what it's like…" She said.

"So what's with this low profile thing?" Eric asked turning left.

"Well," Kagome explained. "I just had a major concert, right? (Insert Eric's nod) And after something like that, everybody's gonna be bugging me to take the tour. If the media were to figure out where I was, then there'd be this huge stampede of Paparazzi's and journalists all rushing into Oahu, more than any surfing competition would attract. I wouldn't get my peaceful vacation at home, and I'd just be sent on tour earlier." She said.

"Ooh." Eric commented.

"Yeah." Kagome said. "And I don't want that. I love this place too much." Kagome said as she looked out the window at the trees whizzing by.

"We missed ya surfer girl." Eric said.

`Especially me.' He thought sadly.

As Kagome and Eric talked, Kagome almost forgot that she was famous and rich. She almost forgot that she was probably on a million people's minds at that exact second. She almost forgot all her troubles and turned back into the old Kagome that was just trying to make a living… Almost…

When Eric's car pulled up in front of Kagome's house, they both got out of the car and untied her surfboard. Kagome stood on the edge of her driveway, holding her surfboard while Eric leaned up against the cleaner section of the side of the car. They continued one of the conversations about Missy and Mace that they had been discussing earlier. After they finished talking about that subject, there was a moment of silence. Then Eric said:

"You know this morning?" He asked.

"Yeah?" She replied.

"I wasn't gonna ask you to tell Leo "hi", you know." He said a little sheepishly, dropping his gaze to the black, worn out pavement at his feet.

"Yeah," She answered. "I kinda guessed." She swallowed. "So uh, what were you gonna ask?" She asked him, hoping the answer would be what she thought it was. He shrugged a little.

"I," He started. "I don't know," He looked up at her and tilted his head to the right and shrugged again. "That maybe you would wanna go out tomorrow or something." He said, once again diverting his gaze to the trusty blackness under his feet.

"You mean…" She asked. "Like a date?" She tilted her head to the side a little too, and rearranged her grip on her board.

"If you wanted it to be." He said looking up at her. Kagome looked down at her own feet, before looking back up at him.

"I'd want it to be." She said smiling a little.

There's an answer Eric wasn't expecting…

"Really?" He asked. Kagome nodded. "So you wanna go out?" Kagome nodded. "On a date?" He asked again. Kagome nodded again, smiling. "With me?" Eric pointed to himself.

"Yes!" Kagome laughed, punching him playfully on the arm.

"Tomorrow then?" He asked.

"Tomorrow." Kagome replied. "You can pick up around seven…" She smiled.

"Seven it is." Eric said happily.

They both just looked at each other for a moment, both smiling and happy. Then Kagome turned around, still smiling, and said:

"Bye." She waved.

"Bye." He waved back smiling, but didn't budge from his spot.

Kagome walked up her driveway five more steps, then turned around again to wave. She laughed as she said "bye" again and he did the same.

Eric went around to the driver's seat and waved back when Kagome stopped to wave for the final time. Eric watched Kagome enter her front door with her surfboard as he started the car up again and started to drive down the street. Eric drove down the road at a medium speed until he got to the stop sign. No cars were in view, and everything was silent. Well, at least until Eric put his arms over his head in triumph and yelled "YES!"

^_^

Kagome walked up the driveway, stopping every now and then to wave goodbye to Eric, not really wanting him to leave.

She walked up her small set of steps and opened the door.

`Oops.' She thought. `You think I'd remember to lock my door.' She thought as she opened the wooden door, and then the screen door. She carefully closed the doors, then went over to the front window in the living room and peeked out the curtain. Eric's green car was driving down the street and away from her house. She saw the car stop momentarily at the stop sign, and then drive away out of sight.

She turned around, leaning her back against the little part of the wall between the door and the window and quietly whispered "Yes!" with her eyes closed. After staying like that for a second or two, she opened her eyes again, and walked through the living room.

On the way to the kitchen, Kagome set her board against the wall that the couch was up against. She walked into the kitchen and up the steps into her room. She went over to her window and looked outside.

The blue sky reflected off the ocean, as the ocean did the sky. Taking a deep breath Kagome looked around her room. She suddenly felt very bored. First, Kagome went over to her closet and grabbed a red tee shirt out of it to keep herself warm, despite the season. She slipped it over her bathing suit top and then tried to find the next thing to do.

So, she started cleaning up. Although there wasn't very much to clean, Kagome did her best.

While she was cleaning, she thought about how Leo was going to react to her going out with Eric. Or how anyone was going to react to this little piece of information for that matter. Then she thought of something. What was she going to wear?

She shook her head at the question. She'd worry about that later.

"Right now," she thought out load. "I better get to work on those lyrics… I'll worry about my date with Eric later."

While she walked over to her very small desk and looked for her pad of paper and a pen, the little black box on her dresser grew warm, as the little piece of jewel glowed a little brighter, and then suddenly dimmed down to a smaller sparkle than before.

She found a blue pen, and went to go sit on her bed. Kagome tried sitting on her bed, than lying on her bed. Then sitting up again. No matter what position she tried, the lyrics wouldn't come to her. Taking a deep breath, Kagome tapped the end of the pen on the pad. She looked around the room, as if the lyrics would suddenly pop out of the walls. She cast a glance toward the window.

`It really was a nice day.' Kagome frowned. `Too bad with what happened with Missy and Mace though.'

She looked down at her blank pad, then back up at the window. She took the pad and pen, and walked over to the window. With her writing utensil and paper in hand, Kagome opened up the window as far as it allowed, gently pushed out the screen and set it to the side. She carefully stepped out of the window into her little balcony and sat down, not bothering to close the window after her.

"I wonder what Missy and the others were talking about while we were on the waves." Kagome said, as if telling the ocean itself. "Their fighting reminded me a lot like…" Kagome paused. Why should there be anything wrong with saying his name? Kagome looked at the big ocean. She was with Eric now, she WANTED to be with Eric now. He was never coming back, and she could never return, so why was she still doing this to herself? "A lot like…" Kagome repeated. "Him and me." No, she just wasn't ready to say it yet.

This little conversation with the ocean got her thinking about the dream again.

"Should I have told Leo?" She asked. "What's it matter anyway?" Kagome asked herself as she leaned back against the walls of the house. "I'm with Eric now." She said again. "I don't want to be with him." Did she? She kept telling Leo that. She tried to convince him that, but was the person she was really trying to convince herself?

Kagome shook her head. "Damn it, Kagome. Stop it!" She said to herself as she pushed those thoughts in the far corner of her mind. "Lyrics." She said. "Just focus on lyrics." Taking a deep breath, she thought. "Lyrics about what?" She complained, closing her eyes and leaning back even farther into the house, as if the blue building were absorbing her.

Kagome stayed like that for a long time. For some reason, the words just wouldn't come to her. Her mind was just full of too many words to pick out any good ones…

`Well what words are in my mind?' Kagome thought. `Obviously him…' She thought. `Oh yeah, that's a great song. A song dedicated to a stubborn hanyou who chose clay and dirt over me…' Kagome sighed. `No, definitely not. Eric…' Kagome shook her head. `I don't want to write something directly about him…' She thought harder and began to rocks back and forth with the wind.

`The word dream is on my mind…' Kagome stopped rocking. She thought about it for a few more seconds before taking her pad and pen, and starting to write.

We all have to dream sometime

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Remember that I have never surfed in my life. I've never even been to the ocean. -___- The closest thing to surfing I've ever done is skateboarding or snowboarding… And I can't even do those well! Even though I don't surf, my friend goes surfing in the summer in Honolulu. So what I know (which is very little by the way), I know from her, but she wasn't too specific with all the details… -___- Just so like her… Anyway, sorry if anyone surfs and I totally got this whole thing wrong somehow…

Another thing, someone asked if Oahu was really a place in Hawaii. Actually yes it is, it's great to surf there in the winter (so I've been told), and it's known for its pipes (Also, so I've been told). It's also the location of the beginning of WWII. Pearl Harbor anyone?

Also sorry if it was hard to keep track of all Kagome's friends… I kinda threw them in there all at once… Sorry.

Till Next time. (KC) kcook220