InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Playgrounds of the Mind ❯ The Disaster after Midterms ( Chapter 10 )

Playgrounds of the Mind

Chapter Ten: The Disaster after Midterms

[Disclaimer: Inuyasha is the property of Rumiko Takahashi]

Challenge Answer: Yes, Naraku is a mobster/drug lord/kingpin of sorts. If it's illegal, he does it, although he's discreet and careful, and nobody can seem to arrest him. But maybe that will change . . thanks to those who guessed!

Author's Notes: Sorry for the slight delay! I have been given some good advice by a dear friend to make the chapters shorter but to update more often. So I'll give it a try, please let me know what you think!

Kagome and some various classmates sat around in the library, moaning and sighing and cursing. It was already midterm week, and everybody had their personal bane. Kagome was struggling with math; Sango with Psychology; Miroku seemed to be equally confused in all his subjects. Inuyasha actually seemed the least frazzled. He looked tired but not stressed. Kagome eyed him enviously, wondering how he did it. She looked to her notes: "the expected process will equal the actual process when the equilibrium stochastic principles are filled." Kagome stared at the sentence in utter confusion. What was this even about? She shook her head; clearly an element of chance only promised greater trouble, not less. Why hadn't she paid more attention to regression analysis back at her old school?

Kagome looked over to where Sango was beating her head against her Psychology textbook.

"Er, Sango, what's wrong?"

"I can't get that damn song out of my head!" She wailed, pulling on her hair. Kagome could not remember what she was talking about, but figured it was not completely class-related.

Inuyasha suddenly closed the Organic Chemistry book he had open and rose from his seat. "I think I'll grab an early dinner and finish preparing in my room." He gave a short nod to everyone and departed. Miroku scrabbled up and ran after him.

"Wait, Inuyasha! I need your help with something!" In his haste to follow his friend, he left his bracelets behind. Sango rolled her eyes and scooped them up, placing them in a neat pile next to her desk.

"I'll return them to the dolt later," she murmured, turning back to her notes.

"Ah, Sango, tell me when this will all be over?" Kagome pleaded.

"Well, midterms will be over next week, school will be over next year, and the suffering will never be over."

"That was rhetorical, but thanks." Kagome sighed.

Sango looked at her sympathetically. "You know, after midterm week, we have a festival week, where there's a talent competition, races, some fun two day elective courses, like cooking or jewelry making, and lots of field trips and community service projects. It's Aureate Winter's way of rewarding their students. It will really let you unwind before the second half of the semester picks up."

"Wow, that sounds like fun." Kagome smiled weakly. "Hopefully I can survive this week first, though!"

"Don't worry, with the lack of sleep and food, it'll go by in no time!"

And it was as Sango predicted; Kagome did not even realize when the week was over. After finishing her last exam, she fell dead asleep in her room, and when she finally woke, she felt much better. She and Sango munched on some snacks while the two girls looked over the festivities available to partake in over the next week.

"Oo," Sango squealed, "look, there's going to be a bachelor auction for charity tomorrow!"

Kagome perked up. "Who's participating?"

Sango scanned the brochure. "Well, since this is a relatively small school, it looks like the administration has asked all the boys from our school to participate. There's also a bunch of guys from other private schools in the area."

"So by `asked' them really mean `forced', eh?" Kagome giggled.

"Yeah, and I can think of someone who's going to love this, and someone who's going to hate it! Three guesses who those two are."

Kagome looked puzzled. "Well, Miroku definitely would love it, but do you mean Inuyasha is the other?" She looked slightly downcast, "I thought he liked charity work-I mean, he was great with those kids, even if he didn't know what he was doing."

"It's just that he doesn't like being fawned over by a bunch of girls like a piece of mean," Sango responded. "I'm sure if you bid on him, he wouldn't mind so much," she teased.

Kagome pretended to be offended. "What ever can you mean, Ms. Davis? I am a proper young woman." She dissolved into giggles. "But, point taken. I'll bring my checkbook."

"And your trust fund, too," Sango said. "You're going to have some very stiff competition.

Uh, oh, Kagome thought, gulping.

The next day, all the boys of Aureate Winters were being fussed over by volunteers at the charity auction house. It was really a stage converted for the evening. Colorful banners and streamers had been placed in the hall.

Inuyasha was sulking, just barely allowing a young girl to brush out his hair. She kept chattering about how beautiful it was. Nearby, Miroku was similarly being preened, except he was vastly enjoying it, flirting with his volunteer and making her flush. He kept winking at Inuyasha. Inuyasha, in turn, ignored him. He hoped against hope that Sango would bid on him so that he didn't end up in some mad woman's clutches. Sesshoumaru, who had been through this type of thing before, had warned Inuyasha in a rare moment of brotherly advice, about the perils a West faced when being auctioned off at an event. `Remember, Inuyasha, every girl is after you for your money and title.' Inuyasha recalled his words. `If you have a friend you can trust, just pay her to bid on you, before it's too late.' Inuyasha would have asked him exactly what he meant by that, but Sesshoumaru had been dragged off to be primed and brushed and god knows what else.

If my own brother, who doesn't fear anything is warning me, it can't be good, Inuyasha reasoned. He had tried to find Sango before the auction, but to no avail. He only hoped she took pity on him. Or Kagome, maybe . . he shook his head. No need in getting hopeful only to be disappointed later, he sighed.

Once the girl had finished he walked over to the heavy curtains and peaked out. He gulped; there were hundreds of girls out there, all of the snobby, stuck-up variety, no doubt.

"What's wrong, half-demon? Afraid you won't be bid on?"

Inuyasha snorted and regarded Kouga with a cold stare. "Are you sure that's not for you to worry about, wimpy Wolfgang?"

Kouga huffed and leaned against the wall, letting his shiny black hair fall to frame his face, having been taken out of his usual ponytail. His blue eyes glittered. "I believe Kagome is going to be bidding on me, so I'm covered," he stated.

Inuyasha's heartbeat picked up as he tried to control his temper. "What? Kagome bidding on you? Don't make me laugh!"

"It's true-she's my girl, after all."

"Since when is she yours?"

"Since our date, dumbass."

"You call that a date? Getting wine dumped over your head and having the girl leave with someone else? Actually, for you that's probably a pretty good date."

Kouga glared daggers. "She was playing hard to get, but she really wants me."

Inuyasha was about to respond when Miroku walked over. "Hey guys," he greeted. He only got chilly silence in response.

"Everyone, positions please! The auction is about to start!" A stringent voice called out. The boys separated, going their own ways, still glaring.

"What was that all about?" Miroku questioned. Inuyasha just shook his head, not wanting to even think about Kouga's stupidity.

In the audience, Kagome and Sango managed to find seats together. Plopping down, Sango pealed off some layers of clothing, removing her suede jacket and scarf. Kagome also made herself more comfortable.

"It's a full house," she gasped, struggling to keep all her outer garments in her lap.

"Yeah, looks like some of the alumni came as well," Sango agreed, looking around. "Hey," she yelled out suddenly, "there's my dad up in front, sitting next to Miroku's mom. I didn't know either one of them would be here." She looked slightly confused after her initial cry.

"They seem to be really enjoying each other's company," Kagome noted, observing the two adults laugh and carry on.

"Yeah, they're probably exchanging really embarrassing stories about Miroku and I when we were little." But Sango seemed perplexed.

The room began to fall silent. "Looks like it's starting," Kagome whispered to her friend.

The coordinator of the auction came out and said a few words. He introduced the schools that would be participating and other information. "Two years ago we raised just about seventy thousand dollars," he beamed, "let's try to beat that tonight!"

Kagome almost fell out of her seat. Seventy thousand? From one night? Maybe it would be better if she did not bid on anyone! She looked around, but no one else seemed phased by the price. She shuddered slightly. These people really had money to burn. Kagome realized that Sango seemed to be more attentive to what her dad and Miroku's mom were up to, instead of the auction. An all boys' Catholic school was the first one featured. There were many bids but Kagome did not pay attention carefully.

When it was their school's turn, Kagome nudged Sango, who looked up momentarily and then back again to her dad.

"Now, ladies and gentlemen, we have the men of Aureate Winters, the famous legend of academia. These young men are la crème de la crème, so let's be generous!" The announcer smiled and began introducing the bachelors. Kagome waited impatiently for when Inuyasha would be introduced. She hoped she could bid, but didn't think she would be able to explain to her mother and grandfather why she spent half her college fund on a date.

She noticed that Yura had bid on Hiten Brenner.

"It's probably just for his hair," Sango whispered. Kagome laughed, glad to see her friend was getting into the spirit.

Kagome watched the next couple of bids, noting one of the boys had been Ken, her over ambitious tour guide. She still was not very familiar with the boys in the school not in her classes.

Then it was Sesshoumaru's turn. He walked out on the stage, looking emotionless and slightly grim. There was a huge flurry of bidders. Kagome and Sango exchanged a glance and laughed. The famous demon prince was quite a catch to be caught. The bids grew higher and higher until only a few bidders were left. One was sitting a few rows in front of Kagome and Sango. Kagome strained to see her, but the girl was slightly short. Where have I seen that side ponytail hairstyle? Kagome wondered.

"Is that Rin?" Sango questioned. Kagome stood up a bit.

"I think you're right, Sango." Kagome smiled. She had become fond of the younger classmate over the last few weeks, but she never realized Rin was so enamored of Sesshoumaru.

Finally, Rin won the highest bid. Sesshoumaru seemed a bit shocked, although it was hard to tell. He nodded politely to Rin and walked off stage. Miroku was the next one called.

Kagome leaned in. "Are you going to bid?"

Sango looked mischievous, "Well, I could just let him happily go on a date with no doubt some cute girl from another school, but I think I might just step in at the last moment and bid myself, and make Miroku clean my room on our date!" She laughed and Kagome smiled knowingly. Maybe Sango was just pretending to bid on Miroku so she could complicate his life, but Kagome knew it was because she didn't want anyone else to have him. Maybe more will come out of their date then just cleaning, Kagome smirked to herself.

A very nice-looking girl with long blonde hair was just about to make the final bid when Sango stepped in just like she planned. Miroku seemed disappointed, then seemed happy when he realized it was Sango. Catching the look she had sent him, he seemed downcast again. Kagome could not help herself. She began teasing Sango relentlessly.

"Oh, Sango, I'm so glad to see you and your true love together at last!"

"Kagome!"

"Can I be one of your bridesmaids?"

Sango growled and bopped Kagome on the head with her bidding paddle. Kagome laughed and bonked her back. The two were completely lost to the current bid going on around them. To get the upper hand, Kagome stood up and raised her paddle.

"Thank you number 28!" the announcer boomed. "I'm sure you and Mr. Wolfgang-Puck will have a lovely time!"

Kagome froze and turned to face the stage. Everything seemed to be in slow motion, and all noise seemed to become muffled to her ears. She saw Sango's look of horror; Kouga's impertinent grin, and worst of all two cold golden eyes meeting hers, spelling out betrayal.

And Kagome did indeed feel like a traitor. Her heart sank painfully.

Author's endnotes: Uh oh, a cliffhanger! Will Inuyasha massacre Kouga right there on the stage? What will Kagome do? Will anyone bid on the freshmen? And this is only the first day of the crazy festival week!

Next Challenge: What movie does this chapter's title remind you of?

Please review everyone and let me know what you think!