InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Playgrounds of the Mind ❯ Subterfuge ( Chapter 7 )

Playgrounds of the Mind

Chapter Seven: Subterfuge

[Disclaimer: Inuyasha is the property of Rumiko Takahashi]

Author's notes: Hey! Sorry for the long delay! As always, a big thanks to my reviewers and readers alike! I'm trying to add more humor to the story, so let me know how it turns out!

CHALLENGE ANSWER: I was thinking of "It's Raining Men" by the Weather Girls for when Inuyasha and Miroku fall off the fire escape, but I really like the other suggestions people mentioned! Jack and Jill, that's hysterical! Really, isn't Miroku like a little kid, going heedlessly after what he wants without a thought to anything else? ^_^ Next challenge will be posted at the bottom in my endnotes.

Kouga sided up to the girl's dorm and looked in through the curtain glass. Noting nobody in the main foyer, he briskly entered and walked up to the list of inhabitants. He let his eyes wander over the names until he came across the only unfamiliar one. Kagome Higurashi. The one Inuyasha had been spending so much time with. He committed her room number to memory and was about to leave when he heard Sango Davis' voice and another girl's. He realized with luck that Sango had just said `Kagome', so she must be the other girl. He listened intently for a few seconds.

"Ok, Kagome, I'll see you back in the dorm in an hour then!" Sango called out as she went down to the storage area of the dorm.

"Alright Sango, and hurry! I don't want to miss the Kendo Club's match today!" So she wanted to see the spars, eh? Kouga thought. This was too perfect. He headed out the door and waited just outside the corner. A few seconds later, the door swung open and a some what short girl with black hair walked out and blinked against the searing sun, looking around as if trying to get her bearings. In a flash, Kouga saw his opportunity.

"Hey, there, you must be the new girl in our class," he said in what he hoped was a friendly tone. "I've been wanting to meet you and welcome you to the school," he continued, smiling his most dashing smile and sticking out his hand. "I'm Kouga Wolfgang-Puck, I'm a member of the Kendo Club."

"Oh, thank you. Nice to meet you, I'm Kagome Higurashi." She seemed to be staring at his outfit. How is he going to fight in that, Kagome wondered.

Kouga stepped back a bit and ran a hand through his ponytail. "Well, would you like me to give you a tour, since you're new and all?" Kagome paled considerably upon hearing the word `tour'.

"Er, that's ok, really," she stuttered. "Actually, I'm just killing some time till I meet up with my friend to go to the Kendo match."

"Oh, really?" Kouga pretended to look surprised. "Well, I'm on my way there, too, see, I'm going to spar with Inuyasha West, the Vice-Captain." He hoped the girl's interest was piqued. "I'm challenging him for his title." Sure enough, Kagome looked interested, and somewhat worried.

"The fights aren't . . . too dangerous, are they?" she meekly inquired, realizing she must sound like a fool.

"Oh, no," Kouga falsely assured her. He smiled again. "Would you like to accompany me there now? I can grant you the best seat in the house, and save one for your friend, too," he offered, hoping she would take the bait.

"Alright," Kagome smiled, her heart soaring a little thinking of Inuyasha. She followed Kouga as he walked through the campus.

What am I doing, anyway? Kouga internally battled with himself. Sure, I can take her there, and then what? A cruel smile brushed across his face momentarily. I can sit her in the area reserved for my supporters, he mused, realizing she wouldn't know any better. Maybe Inuyasha will be so angry, he won't be able to concentrate as well, and I can finally beat him, Kouga decided smugly. A good plan for so little time.

Kagome was lost in thought as she followed the strange boy with the even stranger clothing. I thought Sango said he was pretty mean and dumb, she reflected. Maybe he's matured over the summer, she decided, and relaxed a bit about the whole thing. She'd get to see Inuyasha soon, anyway. Adrenaline rushed into her veins and she willed it to die down before it overwhelmed her.

Across campus, Sesshoumaru had decided to take a shortcut through the library. He had just approached the doors when they flew open unexpectedly and deposited a short girl with a loose side ponytail directly into him. She knocked the breath out of his lungs as she barreled right into his solar plexus, leaving him slightly dazed. Her momentum carried them both right down the five steps up to the doors, and deposited new freshman Rin Jerome right smack on top of Kendo Club Captain and SGA president Sesshoumaru "The Demon Prince" West.

A few moments passed in which Rin tentatively opened an eye and stared about her surroundings. Looking in horror at the person who had broken her fall she scampered off and kneeled next to the prone figure, whose eyes were closed lightly.

"Oh, no! Oh, no! Don't die, don't die!" she shrieked, shaking Sesshoumaru violently. He snapped open his eyes and pushed her roughly away. He sat up slowly, checking that he had no injuries, and finally allowed himself to glare at the nuisance next to him. She was half sobbing, and quite a mess with her hair in disarray. She held both fists pressed tightly against her mouth, her eyes wide open staring at him.

"What do you think-"

"OH GOD, are you alright?!" she shrieked anew, startling Sesshoumaru once again. He reached over and none too gently clapped a hand over her mouth.

"Be silent," he hissed. "Who are you?"

"OH, I'm sorry! I was late, but then I realized I wasn't, but then I though well, If I thought I was late for something, maybe it was something else, so I started to run, and I took the wrong doors, so I panicked and ran some more, and I ran out these doors, and I couldn't-"

"STOP!" Sesshoumaru roared. He breathed deeply. "I asked you your name, not the reason for your idiocy." She looked pitifully at him.

"R-Rin Jerome," she nearly whispered.

"Well, Rin Jerome, I suggest you stay out of my way for the rest of your years here," he said curtly, and stood her upright in one smooth movement as he himself rose off of the cement. Then he did a mental double take. What did I just do? Why did I help her up? I should have left her on the ground and stalked off.

"Thank you," she said, a hint of happiness in her soft voice. "I mean, for saving me, and I'm sorry I ran into you." He gave her an extra contemptuous look and turned away. She apparently did not understand that she had been dismissed, and began following him. He turned about sharply.

"I said stay out of my way!" He quickly spun around again and walked off, not bothering to look back. He walked down the hall and passed through the second pair of doors at the opposite end. If she's here, too, I'll kill her, he angrily thought. But of course she was absent.

How did she manage to throw me down? His mind kept spinning that same question over and over again. He could easily avoid an approaching train, or any Kendo attack from some pathetic opponent, but he couldn't dodge a stupid girl? What was it about her? He could not shake the feeling that she was different from all other girls he had had contact with so far.

From a safe distance, Rin observed her savior walk off. She set her face in a line of resolution. She would find a way to thank him, if it was the last thing she'd do. She followed him again, but kept to the shadows this time.

"Strange," murmured Sango, when she didn't find Kagome in the foyer or in her room. She ran out to look for her near the dorm. She caught Miroku running towards the direction of the boy's dorm, naked to the waist, holding his sweater in his hand. He didn't seem to have any of his bracelets.

"Miroku! What the hell happened to you? Aren't you coming to the match?"

Miroku waved her off and sped into the dorm. She squinted after him. Was he covered in noodles?

"Is everybody losing it so early into the semester?" Sango questioned. She sighed and decided to head over to the meeting, hoping to find Kagome along the way.

The room was packed, and there was still five minutes to spare. Inuyasha observed the huge crowd, not a trace of emotion in his face, save for determination. His eyes passed over the spectators; he nodded every once in a while to an acquaintance or classmate. His brother walked in, looked slightly ruffled. Not that anyone else apart from Inuyasha could tell. After growing up with him, Inuyasha could detect when he had actually been upset by something. All thoughts of his brother instantly disappeared when he spotted Kagome sitting in Kouga's box. His eyes narrowed into slits as he glared at Kouga who was currently speaking animatedly to the girl in question. Suddenly she spotted him and waved enthusiastically and smiled broadly. Inuyasha gave her a cold glance and turned away, his shoulders showing tenseness. Kouga smirked at this exchange.

What did I do wrong, Kagome thought sadly. Had he not wanted her to come? She noticed motion in the corner of her eye and looked over. She saw Sango trying to get her attention from across the crowed room. Kagome tried yelling, and realized it was useless-as anticipation grew, so had people's voices, and it was impossible to hear anything across a distance. She mouthed the words, "Come sit here." Sango looked at her as if she were mad. Kagome looked confused. She was about to go over there and explain that Kouga had offered her seats, when the lights dimmed for a few moments and came back on. The crowd settled down. Kagome gave a last glance to Sango and turned to face the front of the ring.

The person she recognized as Inuyasha's brother came to the center. He spoke in a low, steady voice that commanded respect and revered silence.

"Welcome to the first Kendo match of the year. I am Sesshoumaru Damien West, the Captain of the team for four years so far. Allow me to introduce the Vice-Captain, Inuyasha Alexander West." He gestured to Inuyasha who nodded curtly. "The first match will be challenger Kouga Wolfgang-Puck versus the Vice-Captain," he continued, now gesturing to Kouga. "The match will be one round, no time limit."

Kouga and Inuyasha walked into the ring. Kouga held his sword loosely in his hand, and Inuyasha had his slung over his shoulder, in a manner Kagome found very attractive and nonchalant looking. The two opponents bowed to each other and took their individual stances.

The fight began, with both kendo members seeming to take the aggressive approach. Kagome and the others admired the fluid movements and calculated attacks. Then the spar took a slightly sinister turn, as Inuyasha fought back even harder, dodging blows instead of blocking and rushing forward to attack. The audience was on the edge of their seats, breathlessly anticipating the next moves.

Wow, Kagome mused, Inuyasha really doesn't like Kouga, huh? She felt strangely guilty for taking Kouga up on his offer earlier. Then she frowned. It wasn't as if she and Inuyasha were. . together or anything. This wasn't feudal times, either, where Kouga could have been Inuyasha's sworn nemesis or something along those lines. She had only known Inuyasha a short time! Why did she feel the need to be loyal to him and his causes?

Kouga realized too late into the fight that making Inuyasha mad only made it worse for himself. It seemed Inuyasha did better under pressure and anger than without. Oops. Kouga made a last attempt to attack and Inuyasha seized the opportunity to knock the sword from Kouga's hands. Sesshoumaru called for a halt.

"The winner is the Vice-Captain. Well done," he stated, although he did not seem to mean it. In turn, Inuyasha did not seem to care what Sesshoumaru thought. He swung his sword over his shoulder again and gave Kouga a defiant stare and walked off the mats. Kouga glared at his retreating back, although did not appear to be overly defeated looking.

As the meeting came to a close and people started wandering around, Kagome got up to try and get to Inuyasha to congratulate him. Everyone else seemed to have the same idea, and Kagome found she could not get very close. She felt someone grab her wrist.

Kagome turned around to face a fuming Sango.

"What were you doing, rooting for Kouga?!" she yelled, throwing her hands up in the air.

"What?" Kagome said, shaken. "I wasn't! I was here for Inuyasha. Kouga just offered me a seat and--"

"That's Kouga's box! I was trying to get you to come over to sit with me and Miroku, if he ever showed up."

"Oh." Kagome looked crestfallen. "I didn't realize. No wonder Inuyasha seemed so angry."

Sango's face softened. "I'm sure he's not really mad; besides, we'll explain the whole thing, I mean you didn't know any better." Kagome smiled weakly.

"That is, if we can get to him." Sango authoritatively pushed her way through the crowd, pulling Kagome alongside her.

"Well, finally, Mr. Big shot, ready to meet your adoring fans," Sango drawled out, putting her hands on her hips and giving Inuyasha a look that spelled "as one of your best friends, you'd better hold my praise above all others'".

"Would you like an autograph, Sango?" he questioned good-naturedly, until he caught site of Kagome next to his friend. His expression soured.

"Inuyasha," she started, but he made as if to turn away. "Wait! I didn't know I was sitting in Kouga's box, honestly!"

"I'm sure," he returned coldly, once again shifting his face away.

"Inuyasha," Sango cut in sharply, "Kagome is new, remember? It's Kouga you should be mad at."

"I came here to see you," Kagome said soothingly. Suddenly she listened to herself. Honestly, why am I supplicating in front of him? It's not like he's High King and I am begging for my life, she reasoned. If anything, Inuyasha was acting like a spoiled child. She sighed heavily, feeling guilty, embarrassed, depressed and angry all at once. The blood started to pulse painfully in her temples.

"It's okay," Inuyasha eventually said. He still acted hurt, though. He's got some serious abandonment issues, Kagome figured. I guess his parents must have been busy constantly while he was growing up. If only Kagome knew how far off the mark she was with that thought.

Sango, Kagome and Inuyasha made their way out the doors. Miroku came rushing up, gasping and out of breath.

"What did I miss?" he asked, slicking back his slightly damp-from-the-shower-hair.

Sango rolled her eyes and shoved Miroku out of the way.

"Hey, what did I do?" he questioned innocently.

"You coming, noodle boy?" Inuyasha inquired, smirking.

"You said you wouldn't tell!" Miroku wailed, a fresh set of bracelets clinking in protest as he ran after the trio.

Sesshoumaru inspected the equipment manager's work and walked out to lock the door. He spotted someone dash off into the nearby woods.

Was it that crazy girl from the library, Sesshoumaru found himself wondering. Was she watching me?

Did he see me? Rin pondered. She leaned back against a tree and set her face into a look of determination. She would watch him for a while and try to discover what he liked, so she could repay him, sometime.

Kouga lounged in his room, avoiding his friends. He had to get under Inuyasha's skin in a way that would not result in embarrassment for himself. He decided to "date" Kagome. Certainly she would say yes, since she agreed to sit in his box. He would keep up the charade as long as it made Inuyasha angry, and simply get rid of her once Inuyasha tired of her and moved on. It was a common enough theme for the West men, he had heard stories. Women came and went for the men in the West family-why would Inuyasha be any different? With that thought in mind, Kouga looked up Kagome's room number and waited for some one to pick up the phone. It rung twice.

"Hello," she gasped, a bit out of breath.

"Hello, Kagome. I'm sorry I didn't have a chance to thank you for coming to the match in person, but you left so quickly."

"Oh, Kouga, that's okay. You did well today, I mean you and Inuyasha are well matched."

"Yeah, win some, lose some," Kouga agreed, keeping up the friendly chitchat. "So, would you care to have dinner with me tonight? It could be my way of thanking you for your support."

Kagome snorted internally; the support I didn't mean to give. "Um, well," she mulled over the decision in her mind. Perhaps if she went she could figure out if Kouga was actually trying to be nice or if he were setting her up for something. "Sure," she affirmed, deciding she would get to the bottom of his sudden interest in her. They agreed on a time and place. Kagome decided she would not tell Sango or the others; it would be a secret mission, of sorts.

She walked back into Sango's room, where Miroku and Inuyasha were hanging out.

"Who was it," Sango asked.

"Oh, just a friend from my old school," she informed them. Miroku looked at her carefully, and then gave Inuyasha a side-glance to see if he had caught it. Nope. The oblivious moron was aimlessly flipping through Sango's CDs.

"Well," Miroku stretched his back, "Inuyasha and I need to get going. We've got some plans to see to." Inuyasha stared at him. "Remember, Inuyasha? We're meeting some of your Long Island friends for dinner at Giovanni's." Miroku motioned for him to follow.

"What, we're not invited," Sango pretended to be insulted.

"Hey, it's a guy's night out." Miroku replied. Sango waved goodbye absently as they left.

That's so odd, Kagome contemplated. That's the same restaurant Kouga's taking me to this evening. What a weird coincidence. Kagome wondered whom Inuyasha was meeting there.

"Exactly who are we meeting there, Miroku?" Inuyasha implored sarcastically.

"Listen, don't you think it's strange that Kagome talked so briefly with her friend?"

Inuyasha snorted. "So?"

"Trust me, girls never talk for so little! Especially when they haven't seen each other in a long time. I've studied the behavior of women intently, and she definitely was not speaking to a friend."

"So what, Miroku? Maybe you should get a CAT Scan from falling into that dumpster."

"I think she was talking to Kouga. Look, he's obviously interested in her, for some reason. You know he moves fast once he's met a girl. I bet he just called her and asked her out. He always goes to Giovanni's on the first date, so that's where we're going to spy on them!" Miroku finished triumphantly.

Inuyasha looked skeptical.

Miroku sighed, exasperated. "Look, Kouga lost face today, and he probably wants revenge. Do you really want Kagome to get caught up in this for no reason?"

"If she agreed, it's her own doing! And how would going out with her get Kouga revenge on me?"

Miroku just shook his head. Inuyasha might be the smartest in their class, but when it came to women, he was completely remedial. It was rather remarkable, considering his parentage.

"Don't you at least want to find out why she said yes?"

Little did Miroku know that Inuyasha had already decided to go. "Fine!" Inuyasha shouted, "I'll go, just stop pestering me!"

Miroku lead Inuyasha down to their dorm, talking over the plan. Inuyasha was lost in thought, curious and slightly hurt about Kagome's alleged actions. Well, he would find out tonight.

Seven thirty rolled around as Kagome put some finishing touches on her make-up. Her intercom rang and she picked up.

"Hi, I'll be down in a second." She checked her reflection again and went out, sneaking past Sango's door.

Outside, Kouga was in a designer casual suit, holding a bouquet of sterling roses. He opened the car door for Kagome and climbed in himself.

Half an hour later, as the valet parked the car, Kouga led Kagome into an exquisite restaurant. He pulled out Kagome's chair for her himself, sending the waiter for a wine list.

He is polite, Kagome noticed, although she was somewhat distracted, trying to locate Inuyasha and Miroku. Unbeknownst to her, they were sitting behind her to the left. Inuyasha caught site of her first.

"There they are," he nudged Miroku, who was staring at a pretty waitress.

"Good, their position is perfect. We can easily crouch below that tree arrangement behind the table and eavesdrop. I'll go first, then you follow at my command."

"Thanks agent Miroku," Inuyasha mordantly replied. He stabbed violently at his filet mignon. "This is stupid, she's obviously here because she likes him." He grumbled sullenly, forgetting his food and scraping his utensils against the rim of the plate.

"Just wait," Miroku commanded and got up, careful not to let Kouga or Kagome see. He stepped behind the potted trees and listened.

"-so how's your appetizer?" Kouga was in the process of asking.

"Fine, thank you." Kagome shifted in her seat, crossing and uncrossing her legs. "Kouga, why did you ask me here?" she said, suddenly decisive. She wanted to figure him out right away, so she could spend the rest of her time scouring for Inuyasha.

What should I tell her? Kouga asked himself. She seemed pretty smart, so maybe he could tell her the truth and she would agree with him. Or maybe, he reasoned, he could put a positive spin on the whole thing.

"Well, you see Kagome, Inuyasha is a dear comrade and teammate of mine, and I want him to do his best for our team. I figured a little competitive spirit outside the ring would do him some good." He smiled, foolishly thinking he had been clever.

"Oh," Kagome replied brightly, "So you're using me to get to him?"

Kouga smiled. Hey, she gets it! Maybe handing around her won't be so bad after all. Maybe she can help me come up with some better plans.

"Yep," he responded.

Kagome threw her chair back so fast, it hit the potted trees, which promptly fell over onto Miroku, who was too engrossed in the conversation to realize what was happening. He let out a muffled scream and floundered about on the floor of the restaurant, swallowing potting soil and cursing profusely. Kagome failed to notice this, as she aimed her open palm at Kouga's face. He had jumped up, meanwhile, to help whoever was beneath the trees, and missed Kagome's swing, which caused her to almost fall face first into her soup.

She straightened up and was about to hall Kouga back into place to deliver her slap, when she thought better of it.

"Excuse me, Kouga, I'll be back." She went off in search of the ladies room, still unaware of the havoc she had instigated.

Inuyasha watched the numerous waiters making feeble attempts to free Miroku from the mess of trees and soil. Kouga had gone back to his seat and was waiting for Kagome, not realizing it was Miroku trapped under the foliage.

"Idiots," Inuyasha grumbled. Why was everyone in his life an idiot? He got up to see where Kagome had gone.

He made a circle of the restaurant, and still did not see her.

Kagome had composed herself and exited the restroom. Where was Inuyasha? She had checked the tables nearby, but did not notice that familiar white-like hair. She walked around the restaurant, still not seeing him. Inuyasha walked around again, getting annoyed. People eating were beginning to stare.

Inuyasha stopped near the spilled plants, pissed he could not find Kagome. And he did not know where Miroku went off to, either. Idiots.

Kagome was angrily making her way towards Kouga again. She could not find Inuyasha, and she needed to get back to her current situation and give her "date" the royal sendoff. Suddenly she bumped into someone. She looked up and was shocked to see Inuyasha.

"Where have you been?" They simultaneously asked.

"What? I mean-" they both stumbled. "Stop it!" Again in unison.

"Kagome!" Kouga called out to her.

She walked over, grabbed his chardonnay and dumped it right over his head. "Leave me out of your revenge, Kouga," she snapped. "And as for you, Inuyasha, drive me home!" She stomped out of the restaurant, waiters jumping out of her way as she passed.

Miroku, still rather grubby, walked up, observing a dripping Kouga and Inuyasha who were staring after Kagome.

"That's quite a woman," Miroku murmured in awe. Inuyasha and Kouga nodded, wordlessly.

Author's notes: Well, Kagome seems to have herself some new admirers, eh? ^_^

Next chapter will feature . . karaoke? Read to find out.

CHALLENGE TIME: Another one of Rumiko Takahashi's characters says the same line Rin said to Sesshoumaru (her very first words to him) in Ranma