InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Middle School Troubles ❯ The Plan Unfolds ( Chapter 19 )

Inuyasha could not remember the last time he and Kagome had walked to school together, but this morning they left the house at the same time. It was a comfortable experience sprinkled with small talk before they reached Sango and Miroku like they used to do.

 

It was like old times - the times before their quartet was disrupted by Kikyo squeezing in between Kagome and Inuyasha. The four stayed together until Kikyo pulled her boyfriend away during lunch, squashing any further chances of conversation.

 

After school, Kikyo had somewhere she needed to go, so Inuyasha searched for Miroku, Sango and Kagome. He went home by himself after they were no where to be found. Kikyo's party was tomorrow. He would talk to them then.

 

As he reached the large tree where their group usually split off, he noticed Kikyo across the street. Suddenly eager to keep out of her sight, he bolted up the tree without breaking a sweat. He hung his book bag on a limb and watched his girlfriend as he crouched on another.

 

His curiosity peaked when she slid into the passenger seat of a parked car. The wheels rolled in response to the engine's roar and carried the car out of his sight. A horrid thought crash landed into his mind with the force of a speeding train. The scent of the driver had already knocked him speechless, but it was beneath Kikyo to keep such company when she knew his feelings.

 

While lost in his disbelief, Kagome Miroku and Sango congregated under the tree before he realized they had walked across the street.

 

Miroku's voice woke him up. “So Kikyo's party is tomorrow. Are we ready?”

 

“I am. I just hope I can pull it off.” Kagome sounded skeptical.

 

“I'm sure you can get a confession out of her,” encouraged Sango.

 

“I hope Inuyasha will believe us after this,” said Miroku.

 

“He'll have to if Kikyo says it herself, but what are we going to do about Naraku,” said Sango.

 

There was a thoughtful pause and Inuyasha watched the top of their heads silently.

 

“We worry about him later when Inuyasha is on our side. Kikyo's our first priority,” stated Kagome with unrivaled confidence in her voice.

 

“Also, without Kikyo and Inuyasha being a couple, Naraku has no hold over him or you,” added Miroku on the side.

 

“Say, wasn't it like old times this morning? I was surprised to see Inuyasha with you,” commented Sango thoughtfully.

 

“Yeah, we left at the same time today. It was weird since I haven't talked with him like that in a long time. It was … nice,” finished Kagome.

 

“Aww, look at her blush,” cooed Sango.

 

“S-Shut-up, I'm not blushing! I'm just … hot. Anyway, I'll see you both later. Meet at my house so we can get ready,” fumbled Kagome as she attempted to regain her cool.

 

Inuyasha remained in the tree long after the trio had left. His friends were up to something, Kikyo was involved and Naraku's hands were dirty as well. Apparently, Kikyo and Naraku were connected somehow.

 

What did they say - something about Naraku not having a hold over me if Kikyo and I were broken up? His face contorted into a perplexed expression, his brow furrowing from the effort. Why had it taken him so long to notice something was wrong? He could hear Kagome now, “Because you're a stupid moron!”

 

*********

 

The voice recorder was in the back pocket of Kagome's jeans. Miroku had just handed it to her and Sango was busy flipping through her friend's closet for a long yet party-suitable shirt to conceal the recorder.

 

“Tonight's the night,” breathed Kagome shakily. Her confidence was wavering. She was worried about failure.

 

“Hey, Kagome, what's with this box. It looks old.” Sango examined a small black box and Kagome's lunge of retrieval almost took her friends arm with it.

 

Miroku and Sango stared crazily at Kagome who seemed flustered for no reason. She was clutching the box to her chest and her eyes were wide in frenzied fear.

 

“K-Kagome, are you okay?” Sango spluttered reflexively, genuinely worried about her friend's behavior. “I'm sorry, I didn't know … - I'm sorry.” It was clear she didn't know what to say.

 

Kagome quickly calmed and sense returned. “No, no, I'm sorry. I just - there are things in here that are very important and - and - and dang it, I'm really sorry for acting like this.”

 

“I guess you aren't going to tell us what's in there,” expressed Miroku calmly to ease the situation. His voice didn't leave out the curiosity he was suffering.

 

“There are things that are very valuable in here,”- she tapped the lid of the black wooden chest - “I guess this is my treasure box,” stated Kagome.

 

“Must be some really important stuff.” Sango sounded betrayed and Kagome felt horrible for keeping such a big secret from her best friend for so long.

 

A very uncomfortable silence followed and all three squirmed horribly.

 

“I'm sorry,” repeated Kagome, the box still clutched in her hands. “It's better if you don't know.”

 

“It's fine. Put this shirt on. It's pretty and it's long enough.” Sango handed her a light pink, flowy, silk tank top with wide straps. It was hard to see that the slightly smiling girl beside Miroku was perplexed and hurt through her happy exterior, but Kagome saw through the façade.

 

“Thanks,” mumbled Kagome, disgusted with her self. She put the box back in her closet and changed into the shirt Sango chose.

 

Sango was wearing a pair of faded jeans and a black satin v-neck shirt. Miroku had on khaki shorts with a dark blue t-shirt. They were ready for the party. All they had to do was cover the distance between Kagome and Kikyo's house. She lived several blocks over but it was close enough to walk.

 

*******

 

Miroku and Sango were combing Kikyo's pool house for Naraku's trail, Kagome was stuck talking with Koga in the corner of the room and Inuyasha had not been seen all night. Kikyo mingled carelessly, no Inuyasha by her skinny, anorexic side. She brushed shoulders with Kagome in passing with an obvious sneer. Koga continued to complain about Ayame.

 

“I don't understand why she's angry at me either. You're a girl, tell me,” demanded the wolf-demon. His subtle step forward escaped Kagome's notice, her mind focused on flinging angry curses in description of Kikyo.

 

She turned back around to find Koga few inches from her. The dwindled space spurred discomfort. She couldn't step back because a group of people were behind her now.

 

“Kagome,” his voice was low and deep as he said her name almost pleadingly. He looked into her eyes and his face began moving closer. Instantly, she smelled the beer on his breath.

 

“I don't have time for this, Koga,” she said exasperatedly while pushing him back with both hands.

 

“It's a party. Loosen up, Kags,” he said lightly.

 

“What about Ayame?” reminded Kagome sternly.

 

He snorted in response, “She's not talking to me, remember?” He tried to move in once again and capture her lips, but she ducked out of the way and skirted through the crowd of sweaty, dancing bodies. An elbow connected with her rib before she made it out and her friends eyed her curiously as she clutched her side in pain.

 

Kagome dismissed their questions prior to their asking, “I'm fine - I just got knocked in the side by someone in that -” she pointed to the mob of moving teenagers.

 

“Are you keeping an eye on Kikyo?” asked Miroku without further ado. He was ready to take the conniving witch down for what she did to his friend.

 

“Miroku,” began Kagome flatly, as if she couldn't believe he had asked that question. “She's the one in the flashy, gold tramp dress. She's kinda hard to miss.”

 

“Geez, someone's got an attitude,” mumbled Miroku.

 

The girls ignored him. “I still haven't seen Inuyasha. Why wouldn't he be at his girlfriend's party?” Sango searched the room once more with her eyes. He was not present.

 

“I don't know. It's weird, really,” agreed Kagome slowly. Her eyes had found Kikyo. She was heading outside to the pool - alone. Kagome seized the opportunity at once.

 

“We've got your back,” said Sango and Miroku nodded in agreement, eyes set on the prize.

 

Small clusters of people huddled in separate groups around the in-ground pool. She scanned their faces briefly. It was dark even with lights shining on the side of the building. Kikyo was making her way to the main house across the green yard.

 

Kagome followed at a brisk walk, “Kikyo!”

 

The girl in question peered over her shoulder, frowned deeply and continued walking.

 

“Are you stalking me, Higurashi?” she snipped agitatedly once Kagome caught up to her.

 

“Why are you using Inuyasha?” The tape was rolling, capturing the entire conversation from her back pocket.

 

Kikyo rolled her eyes and tugged the sliding glass door back. Stepping inside her house, she framed a smile on her face. It was one of deceit. Kagome followed bravely, yearning to set the record straight.

 

She started again when Kikyo busied herself with pooring pretzels into a large bowl. “I know everything, so you may as well start talking.”

 

She laughed dryly in response and put the bag of pretzels away. “Really now? You know it all?” Her smug tone suppressed arrogance. The smile on her face screamed a warning to Kagome, but it went unheeded.

 

“Why are you working with Naraku? What's in it for you?”

 

“Hey, you said you knew everything,” - she giggled shortly - “so why bother asking me?” T

 

he contempt and hatred was mirrored in their eyes as they glared at each other.

 

“Why are you doing this? Wasn't getting Inuyasha blamed for your crime enough?”

 

Her face changed, no longer conveying the bright twinkle of a person enjoying a game.

 

“I see you talked to Miroku.” Ice, her voice was chilled venom. “You're really starting to annoy me.”

 

Kagome set her jaw, “You're using Inuyasha for Naraku - just to get to me and to hurt him again.”

 

“Congratulations,” sneered Kikyo sarcastically. “Too bad it's not going to help you at all.”

 

The perplexed thoughts evaporated when she heard his all too familiar voice.

 

“Good job, Kikyo. Thank you for your assistance,” came Naraku's maliciously devoid-of-emotions voice from behind.

 

Kikyo picked up the bowl of pretzels and smirked at Kagome. “Anytime,” she answered while walking away and out the door, back to the party to pretend like nothing was going on.

 

Kagome turned around slowly in her spot to face him, the bane of her world.

 

“Let's talk, shall we.” His face smiled casually - dangerously.

 

It was not a request.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A/N: An exceptionally long wait, I know. There is not much time left for me to write with school in session. I made myself sit down and finish this chapter because I'm going to complete this story - even though it is taking me forever! Please stick with me. And leave me reviews. Tell me what you think and what you like/dislike about it. It's short, I'm aware and I apologize.

 

 

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