InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Sengoku Jidai High School ❯ Student Led Tours ( Chapter 2 )

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

By: Lcsaf

DISCLAIMER: I own Inu-Yasha! And I own Kagome and Shippo and Viz and Takahashi Rumiko! If you believe a single word of that, you need more help that I do.

A/N: As if you hadn't noticed, yes, I have revamped and partially rewritten this story for my own pleasure and to help me break my writer's block. The original version can still be found on my author's page at www.fanfiction.net/~lcsaf .

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The next morning Sango and Kagome met at Elementary School of Tokyo with their respective brothers in tow. After saying goodbye to the boys who were busy digging in their bags for their Pokémon cards, the girls went on their way, merrily chatting about this and that while covering the nine blocks to their own school.

“Welcome to Sengoku Jidai,” Sango intoned as they passed through the gates. “Probably one of the most dysfunctional schools in the district. You ready?”

At Kagome's nod, Sango linked arms with the other girl and the pair traipsed across the front lawn. She led Kagome around the schoolyard first, pointing out the small things like the memorial pillar at the entrance and environmental club's student garden. She showed her where the back gate was--the one that students weren't supposed to use. And just beyond that was a small grassy field that the older students used when they smoked or engaged in other...activities. She showed her the small, "unused" shed close to the back gate and explained that a lot of the older students went there when they skipped class. The administration never even thought to look there.

Kagome, who had never had skipped a day of school in her life, wondered whyon Earth anyone would willingly put themselves behind in schoolwork. It was hard enough trying to make up the awful stuff when she had been sick. But when she voiced that thought, the only answer she received from Sango was an incredibly dry look.

Sango went on to show Kagome the vending machines inside the school and how to obtain free snacks from said machines. She also told her new friend about the school legends and latest gossip while showing her the catacombs beneath the school (the secret entrance was a corner of floor in the lab built in the 1930's). Then, there was the best place in the library to hide; the only computer with unlimited internet access without restricted pages. The last stall in every girls' restroom held a wall of information about anything from the couple of the month to the latest homework assignment for every class's subject.

Finally, Sango stopped in front of a utility closet on the top floor.

Kagome was made to be lookout while Sango utilized the only useful quality of the student ID by using to pick the lock.

The door opened to reveal little more than a few shelves of cleaning supplies and a built-in ladder that went all the way to the ceiling.

Sango shimmied up and pushed a section of the ceiling out. A hatch opened and all Kagome could see was sky; she saw more when she joined her new friend on the roof. The city of Tokyo lay before Kagome just as the rising sun bathed the taller buildings in its rays; it was breathtaking. "It's beautiful up here!” she breathed. “I can see the Tokyo Tower from here!"

They stood like that, looking over the city for a few minutes.

"It's kind of a tradition that an older student will show the first years the roof. But, I figure I've been here long enough to be an 'older student', at least compared to you."

"So, who showed you?" Kagome asked.

“Houshi took me `n' `Yasha up here to hang out one day,” Sango told her. She smiled faintly as she recalled that day. “I remember thinking that it was so pretty up here and all I wanted to do was stand around and look, but I didn't want to look like an idiot, so I just sat down with the boys.”

“If you don't mind my asking, how long have you known Inu-Yasha? You two seem....kinda...close.”

“Well, he is my best friend,” the older girl admitted. She didn't bother hiding her grin at Kagome's apparent surprise. “You wouldn't think it, right? But I've known `Yasha since we were kids and he took classes at my father's dojo. He was my only friend for a long time....none of the other girls wanted to hang out with a girl who could beat up a guy twice her size.”

“How lonely....”

“Nah, I was always up to something anyways. Especially with Inu-Yasha around.”

The morning bell rang and the pair made their way down the ladder and out of the closet just as the students emptied the schoolyard to file into the building. Having already changed their shoes at their lockers, the girls parted ways for their respective classrooms with the agreement to meet outside for lunch.

Humming happily, Kagome fairly skipped to her room and took her seat. She noticed in passing that Inu-Yasha wasn't in his desk yet, but figured he would be late again, like yesterday. At any rate, she really didn't have time to ponder this new development because Kaede-sensei immediately launched into the new Chemistry unit all first years would be starting today.

The morning was relatively uneventful as Inu-Yasha didn't show up late. In fact, he didn't show up at all.

Briefly, Kagome wondered if he was sick, but as soon as that thought entered her head, she tried to shake it away. After all, it had been peaceful so far without him to bother her. She pushed Inu-Yasha out of her head and went to work tackling a particularly difficult chemistry equation.

******

Kagome and Sango met for lunch on the school steps. They swapped octopus puffs, cookies, and giggles before Kagome remembered that she had been meaning to ask Sango a few questions. Clearing her throat, she turned to the older girl. "So, why does each class only have one teacher?”

“You remember when I said this was probably one of the most dysfunctional schools?” Sango asked. “I wasn't kidding. Most of these teachers can't get a job anywhere else. My teacher, Kuraseku-sensei, was a baseball pitcher for a team in Hiroshima, but he really wanted to teach, and not just coach or anything. So he gets his degree, but no one takes him seriously, yanno? It's like his only qualification for being a teacher is that he can throw things perfectly at rowdy students. Kaede-sensei, she's only got one good eye so she can't get around really well because she doesn't have depth perception. That's why 1-C's on the first floor. Renkotsu-sensei seems really nice and normal....but there's gotta be a flaw or something, he wouldn't've ended up here otherwise.”

Kagome munched thoughtfully on her octopus puff. “Who is Kikyou?"

Sango seemed to hesitate for a split second before answering: "She's a third year student here.....well, she was. Top of her class, and a shrine girl-a miko I think, you'd have to ask Houshi for sure. She went off to Kyoto to study something or another." The older girl picked up her soda. "Why do you ask?"

"Do you think I look like her?"

The can stopped just before Sango's lips as the girl turned her head slowly to fix Kagome with a quizzical stare. Kagome fidgeted under her friend's scrutiny. After a moment, Sango responded. “I can see it....you have a few of the same features. Why?”

"Ah, well...uhhhh, I was thinking about what Rin and-and Shippo said and Souta wanted to know who she was, you know?" She carefully avoided looking at Sango and stared into her lap where octopus puffs smiled up at her.

Sango said nothing, but shrugged.

'Great. Chalk up another person who thinks I'm a freak.'

Thankfully a change of subject came in the form of a familiar student coming to joining them. "Enjoying your lunch, ladies?" Miroku smiled as he sat a few steps lower than Kagome and Sango. He plucked an octopus puff from the small pile on the napkin in Sango's lap and popped it in his mouth.

"What do you want Houshi?"

"Just your company,” he insisted mildly, holding up his hands in a gesture of peace. “And....to see if you're coming, Saturday."

Kagome couldn't help but to be interested. "What does Saturday mean?"

Miroku grinned. "Party time."

"Every Saturday night, we have a weekend bash to unwind," Sango explained. "It's tradition. The party is held at a different place every week. Last week, 'Yasha was in charge. Cards, couple'o'drinks, some music and people. It's a great way to relax; a lot better than staying at home."

“And then, you've got all day Sunday to sober up,” Miroku added.

Sango just rolled her eyes.

"Maybe you should bring Higurashi, Sango." Miroku suggested. "Let her meet some new people. Party's at my place, you'll have fun." Miroku directed this last part to Kagome, in addition to a saucy wink.

Sango turned to her as well. "You want to? It's cool, nothing illegal or anything, just a good time."

"O-okay. I'll have to ask Mama, though."

Miroku grinned and made an okay sign with his finger and thumb.

"Houshi, you know Shiroi Kikyou, right? Is she a miko?" Sango asked suddenly.

The older student stared at her like she was crazy for a split second but turned thoughtful. "I believe so. I've seen her a couple of times at the Sunrise Shrine when I go with my dad.” He cocked his head as he studied Kagome. “You know, you should meet her sometime. I think you two would have a lot in common.” With that, he jogged off across the yard to watch the soccer game.

Kagome gave a silent smile of thanks to Sango who only shrugged. "So, what exactly goes on at these parties?" she asked, eager to switch the topic. Food, music, and cards weren't really the best descriptions and a girl wanted to know what she was getting herself into.

Sango stared off into the distance for a moment, lost in thought as she munched on an octopus puff. "Controlled chaos," she said finally, looking back at Kagome. "His dad and uncle are always out together with my dad so, no worries. Sometime, there's a fight, but we always managed to keep any bones from breaking. So, it's cool."

"Fighting?" Kagome paled slightly.

Sango giggled. "Sorry, I guess you aren't into that stuff. Don't looked so pained, it's gonna be okay. Say, I have Kempo with dad after class on Saturday, but after that my day's free until the party. Do you wanna hang out before then?”

Hanging out with a girlfriend after school on a Saturday. It was almost like she was back on Osaka. “Yeah,” Kagome agreed with a smile. Sango couldn't've possibly understood, but just that one little question had made Kagome's day. She went back to class in a wonderful mood and not even the pop quiz in History got her down.

There was still a spring in her step as she met Sango at the shoe lockers, though, that could have been partially due to the American candy bar Kagome purchased from the vending machine on her way down. She'd consumed almost all of it by the time she reached the school entrance and had to spend a whole minute licking and sucking the chocolate and caramel off her fingers.

Sango looked on in amusement and predicted that Souta would have trouble keeping up with Kagome this afternoon.

******

Kohaku and Souta were in the throes of battle by the time the girls arrive at the elementary school's gate. By the looks of things, Kohaku had quite a lead on Souta.

“Hey, Sis,” Souta greeted, barely looking up from his play. He selected a card and laid it down. “I choose Squirtle. He can beat your Torchic.”

Sango grinned and nudged Kagome in a request to watch. Clearing her throat, she said, "Come on, Kohaku. We gotta go home, you can play with your little pocket things later."

"They're pocket monsters, Sis" Kohaku replied. His tone suggested that he had been through this many times before with his sister.

Sango shrugged. "Whatever, they're still pocket toys. Let's go, I have to start supper soon." She winked at her new friend.

Kagome hid her smile behind her hand as Kohaku heaved a deep sigh and started trading cards back with Souta. It was good to know she wasn't the only one with a Pokémon fanatic little brother. She and Souta said goodbye to the Taijin siblings and began to make their way back to the Shrine.

“You missed Inu-Yasha coming to get Shippo and Rin, today,” Souta said as he tugged the shoulder strap of his backpack. “He was there as soon as the bell rang, standing at the gate in some baggy red outfit.”

So, he wasn't sick....but why wasn't he in class? Perhaps there had been a death in the family, or an accident and he was in the hospital.

`Why do I even care?' Kagome wondered. `I don't even like him.' Normally, she wouldn't even give it a second thought, but there was just something about the rude boy who sat beside her in class that had her attention and consequently, her curiosity Maybe it was because he had been the first person she'd met on her first day or their shared connection through Sango.

Did he hate her now that his best friend was making friends with someone he obviously didn't like? And if that wasn't the case, then why did he hate her? Was it even hate? Very strong dislike at the very least.

She found the idea to be a novel one as she unpacked a few boxes of clothes that evening after dinner, one she wasn't entirely sure she liked. Why would anyone dislike her?

It wasn't personal, Kagome tried to persuade herself. Even though he was mean, perhaps he was just difficult and it took someone special, like Sango, who'd known him all her life, to understand him. It wasn't personal; it couldn't be....since he didn't even know her.

That became her personal mantra that evening as she studied and got ready for bed. It was funny though, even after the fiftieth time she'd chanted it, she didn't believe herself any more than after the first time.

And it didn't help her self-esteem at all when Inu-Yasha didn't show up for the next day, either.

“At least we won't be hearing Inu-Yasha interrupt the lecture with all that anarchy crap,” one male student stage whispered to another.

The class burst into appreciative snickers.

“Alright, settle down, class,” Kaede-sensei told them as she shuffled to the board.

Kagome mentally cheered when the bell rang for dismissal at noon.

Kaede-sensei had spent the first half of the morning lecturing for Government and Civics (who knew they still taught it after ninth grade?) and the latter half conducting the Economics lesson from the books and notes from the board. How boring! If that was what every Saturday had to present, Kagome was sure she would go crazy before long. Why did all the important subjects have to be so dull? Why waste a perfectly good Saturday morning on something like that, and not P.E.?

“Welcome to Hell,” Sango informed her as they left to pick up the kids. “All of the first years have to go through it. They say it's good for us to remember this stuff so that we'll retain it as adults. I just think they're separating the strong from the weak, waiting to see who'll slit their wrists first after Saturdays.”

`How morbid!'

“So, whadaya wanna do this afternoon? Sightseeing? Window shopping?” Sango asked.

“That sounds good,” Kagome agreed, referring to the latter. There wasn't a lot of pocket money going around these days with the move and all the bills that were coming in right now. And her spending funds were probably enough to see a movie, but not shop. “Where should we meet?”

“How `bout the boys' school?” Sango suggested. “You know how to get there from your house, obviously, and there's a block of nothing but window shops not too far from there.”

Kagome nodded and promised to meet her new friend at three before herding Souta home.

******

“Kagome,” Grandfather called, as the siblings reached the top of the steps. “I need your help with visitors today, please go put on your robes and give me a hand.”

Kagome sighed as she made her way to the house. She didn't mind helping out with Shrine business, really she didn't. But ever since she'd gotten here with her mother and brother, Grandfather had been hinting at how the Shrine needed a miko and how Kagome would be perfect for the job.

Not that she listened. For all the talk about Kagome hailing from a long line of mikos, there'd been no spark of power whatsoever from the girl, herself. This depressed her grandfather to no end, but secretly relieved Kagome, who had no wish to spend her entire life devoted to sweeping the shrine steps and selling “good luck charms” like her key ring Shikon no Tama.

*****

Grandfather had been right about needing a second hand to handle the visitors. Only a few moments after Kagome stationed herself at the front with the items for sale, a wave of people descended upon the place. They bought incense sticks and prayers and good luck charms. Kagome had her hands full at the front while Grandfather conducted tours of the grounds to newcomers and Gaijins. She meant to only stay for two hours but a busload of tourists hit and all of them were over interested to talk to a shrine girl.

The moment they left, Kagome flew to her room to change outfits and rushed right back out again. Sango would probably already be there by now.

******

“Sorry, I'm late!” Kagome apologized to a patiently waiting Sango. “We got a busload of tourists at the shrine at the very last minute.”

“That's fine,” Sango assured her. “I forgot you told me you lived at the shrine. Come on, there's always a new display every Saturday in the window. Cute outfit, by the way.”

Kagome looked down at the clothes she'd thrown on, her favourite white Pyuu Pyuu shirt that Ayame had fashionably cut the sleeves off of and a pair of torn jeans. “Thanks,” she deadpanned. “Yours is better. You look like you're ready to be in a Namie Amuro video or something.”

It was true. Sango had changed into a simple black long sleeved ribbed V-neck shirt, a red plaid pleated skirt and leather knee high boots. And it looked fantastic on Sango who still wore her hair up in a high ponytail. “I haven't had the chance to wear a skirt in a while hangin' out with `Yasha and Houshi, and Dad threatened to toss out my boots if I didn't start putting my feet in them again, so today seemed like a good day to wear it.”

They turned the corner and crossed the street to the next block.

“Now....feast your eyes on this....”

******

Kagome couldn't remember having such a good time spending so little money. They had spent an hour and a half browsing the window shops and trying on clothes they didn't intend to buy. There had been a discount general store a block down from there where they had a good time picking out headscarves for ridiculously cheap. After walking out with their purchases, Sango picked up a newspaper and scanned the articles before dragging Kagome towards a local grocery store that was sampling some of the products for free.

After snacking on the food (which included beef), the girls left for a closer view of the Tokyo Tower, which Kagome enjoyed immensely.

“It's about time we headed over to Miroku's,” Sango informed the other girl after checking her watch sometime later on a park bench.

Kagome, who'd been feeding the ducks in the pond, looked over at her. “What time does it start?”

“Sixish, but I always wait a little bit. You've still got time to feed your animal friends....”

Kagome stood up and wiped the crumbs off her pants. “Can't....I'm all out of food.” She plopped down next to Sango on the bench.

“What were you feeding them?”

“Those red bean cakes the store was sampling. I put a few in my purse when no one was looking. Don't ask me why I thought I needed them, I'm just glad now that I did.”

“You really like animals, don't you?”

Kagome grinned. “Yeah, they've always had a special place in my heart. I think that's why I begged my parents for a pet with fur......when I was little, I wanted to be a Veterinarian and treat animals, I went to the zoo and even dragged my dad to a farm.....”

“What happened?”

“I became disenchanted.....all the animals were smelly and messy and not really as pretty as my picture books.” She smiled at the memory....

“Daddy, they stink!”

“That's what farm animals smell like, sweetie. That's what you have to put up with sometimes when you treat sick animals. Do you still want to be a Vet?”

“No way!”

She missed him something awful just then. That memory tugged at her heart hard....he would never be there to see what she would become after school; he wouldn't see her graduate college or even high school. She turned her head and wiped her eyes, hoping Sango wouldn't see.

It was odd, she hadn't cried like this since she'd heard the news of her father's death, not even at the funeral. Her father wouldn't have wanted her to wallow in grief. And she hadn't talked about it to anyone; she had gone on, just like he would have wanted her to, but now...... now that she had mentioned that silly little memory, the pain and grief sprung up anew. How long had it been? Almost a month now. Shot by a mugger when Mr. Higurashi had interfered and tried to save a woman.

“Hey, are you alright?”

“I'm fine,” Kagome sniffed. She felt Sango's arm around her shoulders.

“I know it not really any of my business, but if you ever need to talk about it......I've been there too.”

Kagome reached up and squeezed her friend's hand. Not now, the pain was still too fresh....but it helped to know that when she was ready, she had someone to confide in. She gave the girl a watery smile. “Thanks, Sango.” She accepted a tissue from Sango and wiped her eyes.

“Come on, we're headed to a party and you are going to have a good time.” Sango pulled the girl to her feet and linked arms with her before setting jaunty pace. “We'll take the express train," Sango told her. "There's no way I want to walk to Houshi's from here."

The train was pretty crowded, but the girls managed to find two consecutive empty seats. Sango convince Kagome to tie her white scarf around her hair for a little more of a rock look. The ten minutes it took the train to reach their destination went by quickly with Sango telling her more about previous parties.

They got off the train and down the steps from the station to street level. The sun was in its final stages of setting and the girls stuck close together as they walked the remaining three square blocks.

“Here we are,” Sango announced as they halted in front of a gated piece of property.

Kagome stared in awe at what lay beyond the gate. A western style split level ranch house sat back from the street in the middle of a generous yard filled with trees and bushes.

“Come on.” Sango pushed open the gate and motioned Kagome in. The sounds of the party already in progress grew louder as the two walked up the stone pathway that led directly to the front door. “The party's always got an open door policy,” she explained as she turned the knob and opened the door.

Kagome stepped in after her friend and looked around after they kicked their shoes off in entryway and crossed into the hall. On her left was a den; the couch in front of the TV was full of boys avidly cheering a soccer game. In the room cross the hall, to her right, a handful of kids had their shoes off and were grooving to a techno beat on the hardwood floor. She followed Sango through the kitchen where a few students she knew by sight chatted over sodas and finger foods.

One boy with blue eyes sat at the kitchen table eating a sandwich looked up and winked at her.

Kagome ducked her head to hide her blush and she trailed after Sango through the doorway into a darker and carpeted room with wood paneling. From the looks of things, the girl surmised that they were in game room of sorts. A billiard table, a ping-pong table, and a Nintendo area were all in use.

Miroku looked up from his game of pool and grinned. "Welcome, ladies." He turned his concentration back to the shot and sunk the two ball in a corner pocket. That done, he walked around the table to finish greeting his guests. "Glad you could make it. Yanno, Inu-Yasha was wondering when you'd get here."

Said boy sauntered in from the kitchen and plucked the que from Miroku's fingers. "'Bout time ya got yer sorry a-you!" He stopped and stared at Kagome. "I shoulda known..." he grumbled before tapping the 12 ball into a side pocket.

"So whatcha think?" Miroku gestured to the room and tactfully changed the subject. "It used to be a garage. My uncle decided to turn it into a game room after me and my dad moved in. Part of the bachelor pad."

"It's ummm.....nice." Kagome gazed about; her eyes fell on a calendar, where a girl wearing what some generous soul might call a bikini was lying on a piece of white fur. The year read 1969. "Your calendar's wrong."

"Only a girl would notice something like that," Inu-Yasha retorted as he lined up his shot and then cursed as he scratched motioned for Miroku to take his turn.

A rowdy cheer could be heard from somewhere in the house.

"Guess Japan got another one against Korea....."

"There you are Miroku!" an overly cheerful voice chirped.

Sango let out a small groan and Inu-Yasha rolled his eyes.

Kagome turned to see a girl with garnet coloured eyes, short black hair and an even shorter black dress with a plunging neckline, standing in the doorway.

The girl turned her crimson gaze on Kagome. "La? Who's this?"

"Kagome, meet Yura. Yura, this is the new transfer student, Higurashi Kagome." Miroku held out his hand as an invitation and Yura slunk into his arms.

"I'm getting a drink," Sango announced loudly. She turned to Inu-Yasha. "'Yasha?"

"Beer."

Sango nodded and drug Kagome into the kitchen with her. "She is such a slut!" Sango grumbled as she yanked open the refrigerator door to pull out two sodas and a beer for Inu-Yasha. "I'll be right back." She handed Kagome a soda and returned to the game room.

Kagome turned at the sound of a person clearing their throat. The boy who had winked at her earlier was still sitting at the table, eating. He leaned over and pulled out a chair for Kagome to join him. "My name's Wolfsbane Kouga...my old man's English," he explained as Kagome took the seat. "What's yours?"

"Higurashi Kagome."

"You the new transfer student. Anyone ever tell you you're cute?”

Kagome again turned pink but was saved from answering as Sango joined them at the table

"Hey, Sango." Kouga jerked his chin up in a stereotypical male greeting gesture.

"Hey, Kouga." Sango followed Kouga's example.

A new beat began and Kouga wiped the crumbs off the table and threw away his trash. He looked at Kagome. “You any good at dancin'?”

“I don't really dance....” Kagome admitted shyly.

“Aw, c'mon....dance with me.” He held out his hand as an invitation.

Kagome looked back at the nodding Sango before taking Kouga's hand and allowing him to lead her to the dance floor with the other couples swaying to the irie rasta beat.

"RED RED WINE."...

********

Inu-Yasha sank the eight ball into the predicted corner pocket and scowled. He'd won, but it wasn't like it mattered anyways.

Miroku was currently occupied with that obnoxious slut who'd draped herself over him and was chirping away.

She had interrupted the game and spoiled the atmosphere. Her false perkiness grated on his nerves far more than that damn voice of hers.

The beer Sango had brought did nothing to help; in fact, it seemed to make her voice more and more unbearable. Briefly, Inu-Yasha wondered if Miroku considered plugging his ears against the noise; he changed his mind as realized the upperclassman had other ideas written all over his face. And he would probably try to carry them out given a chance and an isolated room.

As Inu-Yasha pondered if Miroku even considered all the STDs his arm candy probably possessed, Sango came in with a ridiculous grin on her face. No doubt his best friend had been talked into doing a row of shots again......girl never could resist a challenge.....

She grabbed a surprised Miroku from Yura's embrace, ignoring the go-to-hell look the latter was giving her. She probably didn't even notice.

Didn't notice or didn't give a damn, Inu-Yasha mentally amended. It was hard to tell at this stage.

"C'mon I wanna dance!" Sango happily drawled and was already half dragging Miroku through the kitchen.

Inu-Yasha followed them to the living room, curious as to what might happen.

The bright yellow walls perfectly suited the room's current use as a dance hall as a mixed version Hamasaki Ayumi's "Fly High" filtered through the speakers, bass resounding through one's chest, for the other kids to groove to the upbeat music. The smell of sweat hit his nose as he stood in the doorway. Not surprising considering the body count had nearly doubled in the ten minutes since he'd walked past.

After watching a questionably tipsy, yet highly energetic Sango boogie with her partner, Inu-Yasha's amber gaze scanned the crowd. He quickly regretted his actions as he spotted the two people that annoyed him the most. Kagome was dancing (if that was what one could call the tangle of spins and twirls the pair were executing) with that pain in the ass that went by `Kouga', the thorn in his side that was always trying to get him in trouble. Just watching them together irked him, and the smile on that stupid girl's face kinda made him want to hurl....

"'Yasha, man, long time no see.” A hand landed lightly on the boy's shoulder. “What's it been, three weeks?”

He didn't even need to hear the voice to know the hand belonged to the Saotome boy, Ranma, a friendly acquaintance. A second later, said boy and his fiancée, Tendo Akane appeared in the teen's line of vision.

"Hi, Inu-Yasha!" Akane greeted with a warm smile.

Inu-Yasha greeted Akane with a nod. He liked the couple well enough. Ranma was one of the only boys whom he could hold a decent sparring match with and they agreed on many of the same sentiments on school, girls and sparring. This made him okay in Inu-Yasha's book. The Tendo girl wasn't too bad, she was pretty nice and funny; in some ways, she reminded Inu-Yasha of Sango a little bit. They had some of the same traits: cute, mouthy, and dangerous when provoked. It was too bad the Neriman couple couldn't always make it to these get-togethers.

“Sango sure looks like she's having fun,” Akane noted.

Indeed, Sango was out on the floor, dancing away like the world would end tomorrow and looking like she was having the time of her life.

A giggle caught Inu-Yasha's attention and he located the source as Kagome, whom Kouga was teaching a new dance move.

A scowl crept across his features and for the life of him, Inu-Yasha couldn't figure out that funny feeling that made him feel sick. He turned to Ranma. "I'm leavin'," he stated.

Ranma looked surprised. "This early? Man, we just got here!"

"I got other places than here t' waste my time." Inu-Yasha explained with a shrug. He tilted his head over in Sango and Miroku's direction. "Keep an eye on Sango. I don't think she's exactly sober. Don't let Houshi pull shit with her."

Akane assured him that they would make sure that Miroku wouldn't try anything with the possibly inebriated Sango and the couple bid Inu-Yasha goodnight.

**********

"You're back early."

Inu-Yasha froze for a split second before softly closing the door to the miniscule room he shared with Shippo, who sitting up on his cot with an accusing stare.

"Go t' bed brat." Inu-Yasha muttered as he pulled off his shirt, leaving his wifebeater on and traded his jeans for a pair of pj bottoms.

"Did somebody catch you? I mean you don't usually sneak back in `til midnight and it's only nine thirty. You know Sesshoumaru doesn't come back in `til two on Saturdays."

He knew. That's why snuck out on Saturdays, and he always came back before his older half brother got in. He had to. There would be hell to pay if he didn't.

Inu-Yasha ignored his cousin as he pulled back the single sheet on his cot and crawled under it. He hated it. He hated the fact that he slept in the same closet sized room with Shippo while down the hall, Rin, who wasn't even blood related to anyone, slept in a REAL bed with a feather mattress in her own room. It wasn't really her fault though, she was just a kid. Whom he really hated was Sesshoumaru, for barely disguising his disgust even as he housed and fed them. But, most of all, he hated his father for dying on them, and leaving Inu-Yasha to live on his older brother's wealth.

Inu-Yasha changed his position on his cot to lie on his side, facing the window, and more importantly, away from his cousin's questioning gaze.

"So, why ARE you back?"

"It's none `o' yer damn business," Inu-Yasha grumbled.

There was a disturbing amount of enthusiasm in his voice as Shippo posed the next question. "Was it a fight?"

"Go to sleep," the older boy enunciated.

"Drugs?"

"It's past yer bedtime, brat."

"Got drunk again?"

Inu-Yasha rolled over and propped himself up on his right elbow and stared at Shippo in a fashion that suggested that he thought little of his cousin's intelligence. "Oi, if I was drunk, would I BE here right now?"

Shippo nodded. "Good point,” he conceded. He waited until the older boy took up his former position on his cot before exclaiming, “I know! You held up a store! Am I right?"

One feather pillow went flying across the room.....*FWAP*

"Waaaaaahhhhh!!!"

"Argh, shut-up, you'll wake Rin!!!!"

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

I sat there and I thought about it....and I think Sango's come out well considering the change in the circumstance. I mean, you'd be more outgoing and open too, if you had Inu-Yasha as a best friend. His is a personality that needs to be balanced by a complete opposite. Although, it's important that friends agree on some of the same things, so I think that growing up together, they would share the same sardonic sense of humour and possibly some sentiments on siblings.....maybe. Still, I hope that you can see that Sango's been portrayed as one with enough sense to know when and where her Inu-Yasha-esque traits would be appreciated and when it's better to be a little more discreet.

Still, I kinda worry about her warming up to Kagome too fast. Tomboys (myself included) are notorious for having more guy friends that girls and tend to be wary of other females. But, I would imagine that Sango knows she needs to have at least one female friend to start talking about “girly bonding shit” with as she's maturing into a young woman. And who better that someone new to the school, someone who won't judge her by the company she's known to keep? I know I'd jump at the chance, wouldn't you?