The Better Man

Chapter Two


Kurama leaned back in the chair, he was going to strangle Keiko. Ever since the girl sat down she'd done nothing but talk his ear off. She knew he didn't like it, yet she'd brought the girl over anyways. The constant chatter was begining to get on his nerves. There would be hell to pay later, he'd make sure to yell at Yusuke also. He wasn't suprised that this girl had asked for introductions, he'd seen her following him around the library for the last few weeks. She'd never made the move to introduce herself, simply stared and kept walking by.

At least both girls hadn't decided to pester him today. Then again now that he thought about it the other girl hadn't payed him much attention at all. Most females young and old tended to stare and flirt. He was just glad that Hiei was in the Makai, he would tease the fox endlessly. Not that he minded that most females found him attractive. It was the way they flocked to him that bothered him. He was suprised the other girl hadn't even given him a second glance.

Yusuke leaned back in his chair and watched as his friend squirmed when the girl grabbed ahold of his arm. She sure was a leechy thing, who the hell was she anyways? "Hey Keiko, wasn't that other girl your lab partner?" He remembered her speaking about her.

"Yes, she is." Keiko wished it had been Kagome that had stayed instead of this Eri. The girl was positively annoying. Her joke was backfiring on her horribly it would seem. The looks Kurama was sending her made her want to cringe.

"So do you have a girlfriend Shuichi?" Eri smiled up at him.

"Actually," Damn, she was trying to corner him, he sighed.

"Oh Eri, I thought you knew. He's gone out with Kagome a few times," Keiko threw the name in there. She'd have to fill the girl in on her little lie tomorrow at school.

"Then why didn't she say anything?"

"She's mad at him, he went and pissed her off." Yusuke decided to help out. Anything to get the girl away from their table. "I'm sure she will forgive him soon." He placed his hands behind his head and leaned back in his chair.

Eri brightened her smile, "Well, then you don't have a girlfriend. Nothing serious anyways, so wanna go to the movies with me this friday?"

"Huh?"

"I'm sure Kagome won't mind, you two can't be an official couple. I know Kagome and she won't get serious about anybody." Eri informed him, so he wouldn't feel guilty.

"What makes you think she isn't serious?" Keiko asked.

"Because Kagome wouldn't get serious not so soon after Inuyasha. I'm sure it will take a long time for someone like her to get over her first dying. Though I'm glad she's going out, so what do you say?" She turned back to Kurama.

"I'll have to pass sorry."

"Oh, okay. I should of known you'd be smitten with Kagome, everyone else is too." She smiled and latched back on his arm.

Kuwabara looked over the table at the girl and cringed. She was begining to even annoy him, what kind of girl would still hit on a guy her friend was going out with? Even if it wasn't true, she didn't know that. That girl that had recently left didn't deserve friends like that. He had sensed the sadness and despair lying deep below the surface. He couldn't imagine what would hurt someone that much. The tart had said something about someone dying, that was probably it. She was lucky he had an honor code or he'd give her a piece of his mind. "Well, I'm headed out guys."

"Later Kuwabara, don't forget tomorrow night." Yusuke reminded him.

"I'll call you and let you know. Yukina hasn't come back yet, so I don't have a date."

"Ah come by yourself, Yusuke and I don't mind." Keiko smiled at him, "Please come anyways, it'll be fun."

"I'll talk to you tomorrow in class." He grabbed his bag and made his way to the door.

The rain was still coming down hard as he walked outside, he made it to his car. The one Shizuru passed down to him when he started college last year. It wasn't much but it got him to his classes on time. He opened the door and threw his bag inside when he heard a scream. He looked across the parking lot to see Keiko's friend kicking her car. The hood was up and she was looking down at it.

Kagome kicked the car one last time knowing her foot took more damage than the damn car but it made her feel better. What was she going to do? Her mother was working and Gramps couldn't drive, she'd have to walk home in the damn rain. She already felt like a drowned rat, she knew she was already waterlogged. "Stupid car."

"Hey, need some help?"

She turned to see the one tall guy that had been sitting at the table with Keiko standing next to the car. "Yeah, got a sledge hammer?"

"Don't think that will help."

"No but it will make me feel better, which if more important." She took a deep breath, he was trying to be helpful. It was more than what every other person that had came out had done. They just glanced her way and got in their cars to drive off. "Sorry. It won't start, I'm not sure what the problem is."

"Well, I don't know anything about cars but I can give you a ride if you want." He had a huge grin on his face.

"Thanks, I'd appreciate it. Let me grab my stuff." She slammed the hood down and went to her door. She grabbed her books and locked the car up. Maybe she should let someone steal it. "Okay, I'm re..." She stopped when he suddenly had his coat over her head, protecting her from the rain.

"My car is over here." He held it over her head as he led her over.

Kagome wasn't sure what to think as he walked her over to his car. She was even more suprised when he opened the door for her. "Thanks," She climbed inside and he shut the door. His door was still locked so she leaned over and unlocked it for him.

"Thanks."

She nodded and looked around the car. It was an older car but it looked like he took very good care of it. Unlike her car there wasn't stuff lying all around, it was clean. The grey dash looked new and spotless, hers had a layer of dust coating it. Then again cleaning her car wasn't on her list of things to do. He started the car and she buckled up.

"Where should I take you?"

"Higurashi shrine." She answered.

"Really, I've always wanted to check that place out."

"Maybe I'll give you a tour one day as a way of thanks." She pushed her hair out of her face to place it behind her ear. Taking a few minutes to look him over, he wasn't very cute. She'd seen better but then again she'd seen worse. He had short light red hair, she didn't see any freckles so that was a plus. Men with freckles wasn't a good thing in her opinion. His features weren't that bad, actually he wasn't really ugly just plain. He was plain like the other red head had been stunning. Then again if everyone was beautiful then no one would be. What had Keiko said his name was? "Sorry, but I forgot your name."

"I get that a lot. You can call me Kuwabara, all my friends do." He spared a glance over towards her. No wonder her friend had sounded jealous. He had to admit she was very pretty, unusual was more like it. Girls like her went for guys like Kurama.

"I appreciate the help Kuwabara. It's nice to see there are still some considerate people out there." She smiled at him, he grinned at her. A few minutes later they pulled up at the shrine, "Thanks again. Maybe I'll see you in school sometime."

"Sure." He watched her run up the steps. Yeah, like she would acknowledge him if she saw him around campus.

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