InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Love's Been Looking For You ❯ Chapter 5

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

Chapter 5 - Turned Inside Out


Inuyasha grumbled to himself as he walked home from the park where he’d met Miroku for their weekly basketball game.

Damn his thoughts and damn that girl!

He couldn’t even keep his mind on the game today.

Normally, Inuyasha was the victor of these one-on-one games, but he just couldn’t seem to keep his thoughts from her. Even Miroku had noticed his inattention, after he had managed to slip by Inuyasha and score point after point.

“Hey, man. What’s going on?” Miroku asked. “You feeling all right? That’s the third point I’ve made on you in the last five minutes.”

“I’m fine,” Inuyasha shot back, throwing the ball at Miroku. “Let’s just play the game.”

Miroku stared at Inuyasha strangely. “All right,” he said, shrugging his shoulders. “I just haven’t seen you like this since - well. You know who.”

Inuyasha growled his displeasure at the inference to the one person he’d rather forget. She was the reason he shouldn’t be thinking about this girl or any other for that matter. In the end, women were nothing but trouble and he’d had his heart stomped on one too many times. He’d leave the romantic shit to Miroku. That man was a glutton for punishment.

“Just drop it. I don’t want to talk about it. Prepare yourself, because I’m going to kick your ass all over this court,” Inuyasha said with a smirk.

Miroku grinned broadly, “Bring it on!”

In the end, he’d lost to Miroku by two points. Bastard! He just couldn’t keep his head in the game. Every time he saw a dark-haired woman or heard a feminine laugh he thought it was her.

“Damn that girl!” He muttered ferociously. “There’s nothing special about her. She’s just a girl. A girl I don’t know and probably won’t see again. What the hells the matter with me?”

He was so lost in thought he didn’t hear the voice calling his name repeatedly.

“Inuyasha!”

He jerked at the sudden hand on his shoulder and the loud voice in his ear. Turning abruptly, he almost decked the man who’d grabbed him until he realized who it was.

“Hojo, you idiot! You startled me. I almost hit you.”

“Sorry, Inuyasha,” Hojo apologized feebly. “ But I did call your name several times. I’m surprised you didn’t hear me.”

Inuyasha grimaced slightly. “I had a few things on my mind. What did you want to talk to me about?”

“Nothing really,” Hojo said as he fell into step with him. “It’s been awhile since I last saw you so I thought we’d catch up.”

Great, Inuyasha thought to himself. Hojo was a nice guy - a little too nice actually. Inuyasha hated the fact that Hojo would do anything just to please someone. Hell, the only reason they knew each other was because they were thrown together as children. Forced playmates through their father’s partnership, until Hojo’s father had a nervous break down, quit the law firm and opened up a store specializing in homeopathic remedies. They had absolutely nothing in common, but Inuyasha felt sorry for the guy so he kept some semblance of a friendship going out of pity’s sake.

“So . . . you heading home?” Hojo asked.

“Yeah, I just came from playing ball at the park. It’s sort of a ritual me and Miroku have. We get together at least once a week.”

“Really. Maybe I could join you sometime,” Hojo suggested with a hopeful smile.

“Sure why not,” Inuyasha said as he inwardly cringed. He wouldn’t exactly call Hojo the athletic type. He heard himself making plans to meet up the following Saturday. Maybe he could get Shippo to play, just to even the odds. Hell, the runt could probably beat him with one hand tied behind his back and that was saying a lot considering how short and slow he was.

Miroku was going to kill him. He couldn’t stand Hojo, though Inuyasha couldn’t understand why when he barely knew him. Maybe it was the way the girls fawned all over Hojo. Where as Miroku just seemed to always get slapped. Miroku swore it had to be an act. No man was that innocent.

They were almost to Inuyasha’s apartment when Hojo stopped short and began waving like mad at someone just up the street. Standing at the corner was a girl with long black hair carrying a large yellow back pack, her back turned toward them.

“Hey, it’s Higurashi,” Hojo said grinning like mad. “Kagome! Hey, Kagome!” He yelled to get her attention. Inuyasha followed him out of curiosity. He had never seen Hojo this excited over a girl before. Not to mention that name sounded vaguely familiar.

As they neared her, the girl turned when she heard Hojo calling her name. Inuyasha’s mouth dropped open and the air left his lungs.


Kagome stood at the corner waiting for the light to change so she could walk across the street. It had been a long day. First her Art History test followed by a pop quiz in Math. Ugh! She hated Math with a passion. The numbers never seemed to line up right in her head let alone on her paper. If she failed anything this year, it would be Math.

I hope I don’t have to get a tutor. That would be so embarrassing. I’m a college student! I shouldn’t need a tutor! Kagome sighed in exasperation.

At least she had gotten to spend time with Sango at lunch. They had stopped at their favorite restaurant between classes. At first they had talked about classes, the ones they liked, who was the best teacher. Then Sango brought up the guy she had met in the store a couple of weeks ago.

“Can you believe that pervert actually had the nerve to grab me on the ass!” Sango exclaimed, her left eyebrow twitching in anger.

“What I can’t believe,” Kagome said, pointing her fork at Sango. “Is that you didn’t kill him. Besides that slap I saw, I don’t remember you mentioning any other bodily injuries. You let him get off too easily.”

She pulled the napkin from her lap to wipe her mouth.

“You know what I think?” She said, hiding a mischievous grin behind the napkin.

Sango looked at her questioningly. ”What?”

“I think you liked it.”

“Wh-What!” Sango sputtered, her face turning red. Either from anger or embarrassment, Kagome wasn’t sure. “How could you say that?! I was practically assaulted by that creep and you think I liked it!”

“Yeah, I do. In all seriousness Sango, every time we’ve talked you’ve brought up that guy“

“Miroku.”

“What?”

“His name is Miroku,” Sango replied.

“You see. That’s exactly what I’m talking about. You even remember his name. I think you really like this guy despite the fact that he coped a feel. You even told me yourself that you thought he was cute.”
Sango grimaced and stabbed her food with a fork. “That was before I found out he was a lech. Besides I couldn’t help but remember his name, his friend was basically screaming it at him.”

“Who?”

“Oh, you know, the cute one you’ve been drooling over,” Sango said.

“I have not been drooling over him!”

“Well, he did say you bumped into him.” She looked at Kagome expectantly. “So, come on! Give me the details.”

Kagome shrugged her shoulders and stared down at her plate of untouched food. Carefully, she cut up her chicken and took a dainty bite before answering.

“There isn’t much to tell. I blew it.”

“What do you mean ‘you blew it’? What happened?”

“I did run into him. He seemed mad at first so I apologized to him. He kept asking me if I was all right, but I couldn’t answer him. I just froze up. Then I blurted out the first thing I could think of.”

“What did you say?” Sango asked.

Kagome dropped her head in her hands. “I asked him where the bathroom was. I was so mortified after that I practically ran to the bathroom!”

“It’s not so bad, Kagome,” Sango said, while trying to hold back a giggle.

“It’s not funny, Sango!” Kagome wailed. “He probably thinks I’m an idiot.”

“I’m sure he doesn’t,” Sango replied. “He seemed really interested in helping me find you. He even offered to show me where the bathrooms were, which I thought was a little odd at the time. Maybe he wanted to see you again. We should go back and . . .”

“No! There is no way I’m going back there. I’ve already made a big fool out of myself.”



Kagome grimaced at the remembered conversation. She still couldn’t believe the way she’d acted that day. I’ve never had trouble talking to people before. So why couldn’t, I talk to him without stuttering like an imbecile. She sighed heavily. So much for true love.

The sign flashed to “walk” and Kagome started to cross the street when she heard someone call her name from behind.

Turning, she saw Hojo walking rapidly toward her, his hand waving like mad in the air. Pasting on a pleasant smile that she didn’t feel, she greeted him.

“Hello, Hojo. How are you?”

“Hi, Kagome. I’m so glad I caught up with you before you crossed the street. I’ve been wanting to see how you were doing. The last time I called you said you were sick.”

“Oh, well, I’m fine now. It was just a simple cold.”

She’d forgotten about feigning illness when Hojo had called last week to ask her out on a date. She hated lying to him, but the boy just wouldn’t take ‘no’ for an answer and persistently asked her out every weekend. Aside from just being mean to him, which she didn’t want to do, she couldn’t think of any alternative other than to tell him she was sick.

“Well, since you’re feeling better.”

Oh, great, here it comes!

“I was wondering if you would like to see a movie with me this weekend?” Hojo asked with a hopeful expression on his handsome face.

Kagome fiddled with the strap on her backpack as she contemplated whether or not to accept Hojo’s invitation.

He is nice and handsome even if he is a little boring. Scratch that! He’s very boring! All the boy talks about are the latest health remedies. Oh, why not?! It’s not like I have any other prospects thanks to my fiasco in the department store.

Looking up at Hojo’s expectant face, she was just about to accept when she saw someone approaching them. Dressed in sweats, like he had just come from the gym, was the guy she’d been drooling over –er, thinking about for weeks. And he was heading straight for them!

Oh, my god! Somebody, hide me! I can’t see him now!

Kagome couldn’t help staring at him as he came to a stop next to Hojo who seemed oblivious to his presence.

“Um, hi,” Kagome said, smiling shyly at the black-haired man.

“Oh, hey, Inuyasha. Sorry. I sort of forgot about you,” Hojo said, scratching his head sheepishly. “Any way, this is my friend, Kagome Higurashi.”

No way, it can’t be that easy! , Inuyasha thought. Does she remember me?

“And this is Inuyasha Taisho,” Hojo said, finishing the introductions.

“It’s nice to see you again, Kagome,” Inuyasha said.

“Oh, you know each other.” Hojo looked surprised.

“Well, not exactly,” Inuyasha said, smirking when he saw the faint blush on Kagome’s cheeks. She does remember me. “It’s a long story, we’ve met before but were never formally introduced.” Looking at Kagome, he asked, “You haven’t tried to knock anyone down lately, have you?”

“It was an accident!” Kagome sputtered in indignation. “I did apologize.”

“O-kaay,” Hojo said, eyeing them both speculatively. Deciding it was safe to proceed, he broached the subject of the date once more. “So, Kagome, about that movie. Would you like to go with me this Friday night?”

What! He’s asking her out. Damn, I’m too late!