InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Syndrome ❯ Ask Already ( Chapter 34 )

 

I do not own Inuyasha and Company, no matter how happy it would make me. Rumiko Takahashi does.

 

 

@@ About 2 and a half Years Ago/Kagome's Sophomore Year of High School @@

 

 

 

Chapter 34 - Ask Already

 

 

 

Kagome frowned at the sound of the front door slamming and looked at Bankotsu in question.

 

“I don't know, Kaggie. He's been upset about something lately, but he won't talk to me. I don't know what his problem is.” Kagome's frown grew and he sighed. “I asked him, I swear. He just blows me off, says nothing's wrong. Mom tried to talk to him too. You're welcome to give it a shot.”

 

Kagome sighed and shook her head slowly. “If he won't talk to you or your mother, then he isn't going to talk to me either.”

 

“I don't know, Kagome. Jak trusts you. I don't know why he can't talk to me about it, but he needs to talk to someone. I think you should try.”

 

“What about his friends?”

 

“Haven't seen much of them recently.” Bank smiled softly as he saw determination develop in her eyes. She would find some way to help his brother with whatever was bugging him, he was sure of it. Just like he couldn't help but love her, Jak was also helpless to resist the force that was Kagome. Even if he didn't want to, he would end up telling her what the problem was, and then Kagome could work her magic and fix it. Bankotsu had complete faith in his best friend, and for good reason. When she set her mind to accomplishing something, there was just no stopping her. Jakotsu's problem, whatever it was, didn't stand a chance.

 

Without another word, Kagome got up and left her friend's room, hopping down the flight of stairs and setting out to find Jak. She finally located him in the living room, glaring angrily at the television like it had just given him a swirlie followed by an atomic wedgie and he was hell bent on revenge. After a moment, he noticed her presence and gave her a half-hearted grin.

 

“Bankie send you to talk to me?” he asked semi-sarcastically.

 

“Nope, you did that yourself.” When he made a confused face she continued. “What did that poor door ever do to you?” When she moved to sit beside him, Jakotsu surprised her by pulling her to sit across his lap, making her laugh. “He did tell me that you won't talk to him or your mom about whatever's bugging you. So, Jakkie, what's wrong? Why so cranky?”

 

Jakotsu laughed at her playful tone, deciding that if he could talk to anyone about his problem, it would be Kagome. “I don't know, Kaggie. I'm probably just being stupid, upset over nothing.”

 

“No, it's not nothing if it's bothering you this much. Now spill, Mister.”

 

“It's about the Junior Prom,” he said barely audibly, his eyes pinched tightly shut waiting for her to say or do… anything.

 

“And…? Don't tell me you can't get a date.”

 

His tense shoulders relaxed as he realized that she wasn't going to judge him, wanting to smack himself for being worried about it for even a second. “Can't isn't the problem. There just isn't anyone I want to ask.”

 

Kagome's eyes grew wide. “You're telling me out of all the girls in our entire school… that you don't like any of them?”

 

“Not a one. I don't know what my problem is, Kaggie, but I don't want to just pick some girl and then have her think I like her or that we're dating or something and end up hurting her.”

 

Kagome smiled and ran her fingers through his long black hair, sitting in a messy pile around his shoulders. “You're too sensitive for your own good, ya know? So why don't you ask someone as a friend? I know there's at least one girl in your group.”

 

“Umm, yeah, well, I just found out that she's had a huge crush on me for years and is hoping I'm going to ask her to the dance. On top of that, it's made it weird with all of them. Apparently everyone has known about it forever but me.”

 

“Awkward,” she said while making a face, Jak laughing as her eyes crossed. Focusing, she looked pointedly at him. “You could always go stag. You don't need a date.”

 

“Sure, if I want to look like a giant loser that couldn't get a date to save my life I could go alone.”

 

Kagome sighed dramatically. “Then there has to be some girl who will understand you only want to go as friends and not take it the wrong way. You just have to ask the right girl the right way, that's all.”

 

Suddenly inspiration sparked in Jak's eyes and his voice was full of excitement as he spoke. “There is one, a girl who I know would understand, who would be a great date, a ton of fun, and… Oh, and instead of looking like King Dork without a date taking her would make me look awesome! I'd be a hero. She's drop-dead gorgeous, absolutely stunning, and every guy in school is dying to take her but has zero chance. Yes, she's perfect.” He lifted her to her feet with him as he stood and pressed a kiss to her forehead with a loud `mwah' before leaving the room with a flourish, poking his head back in for just a second. “Thanks Kags! I couldn't have figured this out without you!”

 

She simply stood there stunned for a moment, trying to figure out just what the hell happened, before giving up and heading back up to Bank's room.

 

When he saw the dazed look on her face, her best friend laughed. “No luck? I don't need to go kick his ass for being a jerk, do I?”

 

Kagome laughed and shook her head. “I don't know how, but apparently I fixed it.”

 

“And what was `it'?”

 

“A date for the Prom.” When Bank made a face at her she laughed harder. “I know!”

 

 

 

@@@@@The Syndrome@@@@@

 

 

“Inuyasha, you might as well quit growling already,” Kagome said while only half paying attention to the very vicious sounding hanyou. “You know that Bank is gonna tell them all `no', so why get all worked up about it?”

 

“Because the bastards shouldn't even be fucking asking, that's why! What the hell makes them think that they're even remotely good enough for you?”

 

Kagome laughed and reached over to rub a soft white ear, flattening the fur that had bristled in his anger and frustration. “You do know I'm just a normal girl, right?”

 

“Like hell!” he almost yelled with a snarl, making the few males closing in to attempt to talk to Kagome think twice and head in a safer direction. Inuyasha turned and looked at her with honest adoration in his eyes. “You are so much more than a normal girl. You're an angel, Kagome, and you'll never convince me otherwise.”

 

“And I've learned not to try. You gotta calm down though, Inu. Guys are gonna ask. I'll send them to talk to Bank like always. Bank will tell them to take a long walk off a short cliff, and everything will be exactly the way it was before. You're acting like you're a guard dog or something with all the growling and snarling. I'm kinda surprised you're not foaming at the mouth by now, and I'm really thankful you haven't tried to pee on me to mark me as your territory.”

 

“Trust me, babe, if I caught the half-breed even thinking about marking you in any way I'd kill him,” an obnoxious, overconfident voice forced its way into their conversation.

 

Kagome sighed heavily, holding tight to the ear between her fingers, knowing Inuyasha was smart enough not to try to pull away when she had him by the short and furries. “Kouga, personally I think you're incapable of killing Inuyasha, and if you even so much as tried you would regret it. Oh, and if anyone had any right to mark me it would be him, not you. I wish you'd just get it through your thick skull that I prefer his company to yours a million times over.”

 

“Take that, ya mangy bastard!” Inuyasha shot at the very put off wolf before wrapping his arm around her waist and pulling her closer. He locked eyes with Kouga and let out a low, dangerous snarl before growling, “Mine,” his eyes flashing red for a moment before returning to their normal warm gold.

 

Though he would never admit it, not even to himself, Kouga'd nearly wet himself at the hanyou's aggressive, possessive display and decided now was as good a time as any to make his retreat, before he was further humiliated in front of, and even by, his `woman'. “Yeah, yeah. Just you watch, half-breed. One day she's gonna trade up to a real demon and I'll be waitin'!” the wolf called back over his shoulder as he added distance between himself and Inuyasha, all the while telling himself it was for the hanyou's own good. He wasn't scared, not in the least.

 

“Okay tough guy, now can you let me go so I can get back to eating my lunch?!” Kagome asked with a grin, laughing as Inuyasha grudgingly released her.

 

 

 

@@@@@The Syndrome@@@@@

 

 

 

Sesshoumaru was absolutely seething after witnessing his bastard half-brother claiming possession of the miko, his miko. It had taken every ounce of his self control to keep from going over there and challenging the half-breed for her. It wasn't fair. Why did she associate with the fool to begin with? Why would she, though he was thankful she did, brush off perfectly eligible suitors, preferring instead to stay with her `friends'? He just didn't understand it. Why defend the hanyou? Why encourage his behavior by justifying his claim? Why for the love of all the Kamis in the heavens did she allow the filthy creature to touch her?!

 

It didn't help that he was already incredibly irritated before the wolf had even approached her. It was going to be a long couple of weeks, and he was very tempted to just kill all his classmates to save himself the inconvenience they were causing him.

 

It would have been entertaining, if it wasn't so annoying at least, how they still fawned after him even when he gave them no encouragement whatsoever. It certainly didn't help the size of his overgrown ego. They should have known by now that he had no interest in dating any of the females at school, and yet they waited. Any girl that had deluded herself into thinking that she had a chance, and there were a lot of them, was holding out, refusing to accept anyone's request with the hopes that she would be the one that Sesshoumaru would ask to the prom.

 

Like he was going to ask anyone! He wasn't even going to the ridiculous affair. It simply didn't rate his time and effort. No, he had much better things to do, like lusting after Kagome from the shadows. That was a much better use of his precious waking hours, his sleeping hours already completely devoted to nothing but her as well.

 

The situation was of course was driving every other guy crazy, making him both the most popular and most unpopular individual at the school at the moment. He was used to one, but the other was rather new to him, and Sesshoumaru found himself almost enjoying their frustration and jealousy. It wasn't his fault that the female population found him irresistible and preferred him to any other male specimen. Really, the other males should have gotten used to it by now, he would have thought. Still, every time a girl was asked to the prom and her answer was `I'll have to think about it,' somewhere in the school his name was cursed.

 

It was only fair, considering how many of them he'd silently cursed recently. He wanted to know just what made them begin to think they were good enough to even be in her presence, let alone escort her to the Junior Prom. The knowledge that he actually agreed with his half-brother about something simply served to irritate him further. Every time one of his classmates approached her a little part of Sesshoumaru died, wondering and yet knowing at the same time just how she'd respond if he did the same. He could never ask her for the time of day, let alone for a date, and it was painful to see over and over again that so many others had the confidence to at least try when he knew he never would.

 

Once again he had to grudgingly admit that he was thankful for her friends, especially Bankotsu, who seemed to be the one who Kagome deferred to as to who she would and would not date. To Sesshoumaru's great pleasure, not one male had been approved yet. Hopefully he would never live to see the day when one was, because he was certain seeing Kagome date someone other than himself would absolutely kill him.

 

 

 

@@@@@The Syndrome@@@@@

 

 

 

It was lunch time and once again Bankotsu was fending off suitors, much to his own amusement, this time leaving both Miroku and Inuyasha to keep his little Kagome company while she ate. Really, he would never get tired of telling guys that they just weren't good enough for her. Ever since they'd first made their arrangement, Bank had thoroughly enjoyed his self-assigned duty.

 

Most didn't even bother to approach her first anymore, instead coming straight to him to ask his permission, like he was her father interviewing the young men wishing to ask her hand in marriage. He took his task seriously, but even still, sometimes he stayed up late into the night just thinking of new ways to tell them all `no'. The times before dances were becoming his favorite times of the year.

 

Bankotsu looked over at the sound of Kagome's musical laughter and found himself intrigued. What in the world was his brother doing? Had Jakotsu lost his mind?

 

 

 

@@@@@The Syndrome@@@@@

 

 

Inuyasha was doing his best not to glare at Miroku, the monk having been the one today to score the seat beside Kagome. He was trying not to be bothered by all the guys' interest in his Kagome, really he was, but it was harder than he'd ever imagined possible. All he knew for certain was that they were all lucky he wasn't in charge of dealing with the horny bastards. If it was him, they wouldn't simply be walking away disappointed; they'd be walking away bruised and bloodied too.

 

It irked him at a very primal level to have so many males sniffing around her like she was a bitch in heat. Kouga was bad enough, and Inuyasha didn't know how much longer he could stand it without sinking his claws into at least a few of them. He knew Kagome didn't like it when he fought, but he had some seriously pent up rage just below the surface begging to get out.

 

Miroku barely noticed it at all anymore. Bank had it under control, and before she'd made friends with Inuyasha, he'd always been the one assigned to keep her safe while Bankotsu did the dirty work. He was simply used to it, hanging around trying to keep her from wanting to scream at the guys who kept interrupting her favorite time of the day, mealtime. Inuyasha would get used to it too eventually. It was just something that came with the territory, and being friends with Kagome was more than worth putting up with half the school chasing after her while the other half stewed in their jealousy.

 

Kagome rolled her eyes as she felt someone tap on her shoulder. A quick glance at Inuyasha and she knew he was not too far from jumping over the table to accost the one who dared lay a finger on her, and she turned to get it over with before the hanyou popped a vein trying to keep his anger under control. “What do you… Jak?” Kagome asked in confusion. “What the hell are you doing?”

 

There, kneeling at her feet was a very fancy dressed Jakotsu with a bouquet of yellow roses in one arm, a piece of paper in his other hand, and a huge grin on his face. “Just go with it, Babe,” he chuckled before clearing his throat loudly and beginning to read off the paper he held, making sure everyone around could hear his every word, knowing he had their attention already.

 

“What greater beauty could there be but my brother's very best friend smiling back at me.” When Miroku turned around and looked at him like he'd lost his mind, Jak fought back laughter to continue. “No other girl could ever do, not once I'd set my sights on you.”

 

“What the fuck is this shit!” Inuyasha yelled, starting to stand but stopping like the wind had been stolen from his sails as Kagome waved him down with one hand, not even bothering to turn around to look at him.

 

Jakotsu continued to read his carefully thought out poem, knowing she would get it, even if no one else did, which was all that mattered.

 

“My oldest and my dearest friend,

One I can truly trust until the end,

Who would never misunderstand,

When I want to hold your hand,

 

Whose heart I could not break,

Who could never make this choice a mistake,

In search of she who would be most fun,

I knew that you could be the only one.

 

Would you make this lowly boy's

Hopes and dreams come true,

And say yes to what

I've come to ask of you?”

 

He handed the stunned silent Kagome the bouquet of roses, their color symbolizing true friendship, before taking her other hand in his. “Would you, Kagome, do me the honor of making me the luckiest and most envied and hated guy at the Prom by being my date?” For a moment she didn't react and Jakotsu was horrified that he'd just humiliated himself in front of the whole school, to be turned down flat by the one person he was sure never would, but when he saw the small smile growing on her face he knew he was safe.

 

“I don't have a poem prepared or anything,” she said with a laugh, “but if a simple yes is okay with you, I'll give you that.” She giggled as he swept her into his arms and twirled around several times until he risked getting dizzy and dropping her. “If I was who you were talking about,” remembering his flattering words a few days earlier Kagome blushed a beautiful shade of pink, “then why didn't you just ask me then?”

 

“What, and not give you a moment worth remembering when asking you to your first prom? Never!”

 

Before anyone could get in a word or even a syllable, Jak had whisked her through the shocked crowd and out of the cafeteria, the two having lots of talking to do. The pair left behind a chuckling Miroku, a cursing Inuyasha, a smirking Bankotsu, a confused crowd, and one very upset taiyoukai who'd gotten an extra, albeit unintentional, kick in the teeth on their way by.

 

Jakotsu, with Kagome in his arms, had paused for just a second beside where Sesshoumaru sat and shot him a grin. Apparently the taiyoukai needed a little encouragement and he was going to be the one to give it since he knew no one else would dare. “You really should go ahead and ask whoever you're gonna ask to the prom. Everyone's waiting on you… Well, almost everyone,” he added as he smiled at Kagome who smiled back beautifully.

 

He didn't have a moment to react before they were gone and even if he had, Sesshoumaru had no idea what he would have said. Kagome was right there, so he certainly didn't want to be rude and make an extra large ass of himself… again. However, it wasn't like he could just agree either. How could he when the only girl he would ever even consider asking to the prom was apparently the only one who wasn't waiting around for him? If only Jak had known…

 

 

 

@@@@@The Syndrome@@@@@

 

 

 

“No! No fucking way in hell! I thought it was your job to keep them off her! I don't care if he is your brother! No goddamn way in hell am I letting him take her to the fucking prom, not if we can't go too!” Inuyasha was ranting and raving while pacing angrily back and forth across his bedroom floor. “I don't know him. I don't trust him. No! It's just not going to happen. It can't!”

 

“I don't know what your problem is! He's my brother!” Bankotsu was just as pissed. He couldn't believe the way Inuyasha was acting! Kagome would be perfectly safe with Jakotsu. “He's known her for as long as I have, a hell of a lot longer than you, by the way, and he loves her! He's not a threat to her!”

 

“Does he have a fucking dick?” The enraged hanyou paused for a second for emphasis before continuing. “Then he's a fucking threat to her!”

 

“Just what are you trying to say? You think Jakotsu is going to hurt her? He'd never do that! He'd never put the moves on her or do anything else inappropriate. She might as well be his sister!”

 

“If she's his sister, then why the hell is he asking her to the fucking prom?”

 

Deciding the yelling, which had been going on for nearly half an hour and was getting rather cyclical, had gone on long enough; Miroku cleared his throat hesitantly, wincing as two sets of angry eyes suddenly focused on him. “Perhaps the two of you are looking at this situation the wrong way. You both know that Kagome would not approve of your fighting, and it is likely pointless anyway.”

 

“And why the fuck is that?” Inuyasha snarled.

 

“Do either of you recall Kagome asking the opinion of any of us before agreeing to Jak's request?” Seeing realization dawn in both his friends' eyes, he sighed, relieved they no longer looked like they wanted to kill him for daring to open his mouth. “Her mind has been made up. We all know that ninety-nine percent of the time Kagome happily defers judgment to one of us. We also know that the one percent she doesn't is absolutely non-negotiable. You could both talk until you are blue in the face and it will make no difference whatsoever. All you are doing is hurting your friendship, and in doing so, hurting both of your relationships with our dear Kagome. Just what would she say if she knew the two of you were acting like this?”

 

“He's right,” Bank said, already regretting his anger. He should have understood why Inuyasha was so upset and at least introduced him to Jak before expecting him to accept it.

 

“Why does the monk have to make sense all the damn time?” Inuyasha snarled to himself. “Fine, if she's going no matter what then I'm gonna make sure everything is on the level.”

 

Bankotsu had to hold back the desire to once again defend his brother, knowing it wouldn't do any good. “All you're gonna do is get on her nerves,” he warned.

 

“Not if she don't know I'm there,” the inu hanyou declared obstinately. “Just where did he take the wench today anyway?”

 

Miroku laughed. “They're having lunch to talk about their prom plans.”

 

“What the fuck is there to plan?”

 

Bankotsu laughed. “With Jak? A lot.”

 

 

 

@@@@@The Syndrome@@@@@

 

 

 

Once again Sesshoumaru found himself suffering the indignity of agreeing with his half-brother. He couldn't believe that they were just going to sit by and allow Kagome to go to the prom with anyone! He didn't care that it was Bankotsu's brother. It could have been his damn clone and it wouldn't have been okay in his eyes. Of course, in his eyes, Kagome should only ever date him, which sadly he knew was never going to happen.

 

`Well, it seems that this Sesshoumaru is going to the prom after all,' he thought to himself, already dreading the hell that night would be.

 

Why did he torture himself? Why make himself watch her on a date with someone else? Why force himself to see her dance with another male when all he wanted was to hold her in his arms? Why? Apparently he was a glutton for punishment, because for the life of him, Sesshoumaru could not think of a single reason not to. He needed to be close to her: to see her, to hear her, to smell her, to absolutely wallow in her presence. Their surroundings while he allowed himself to do so were irrelevant.