The Bridge

Title: The Bridge

Author: Takara

Pairings: Inu/Kag

Disclaimer: Yo, I unfortunatly don't own Inuyasha, Kagome, Hojo-kun, or any other character for that matter. Nor do I own the beliefs and ideas about demons and humans. All that is owned by the lovely, amazing Rumiko Takahashi. Some day I hope I am that sucessful. Anyway the plot however is mine, as are any minor tweakings I have made to certain characters (Yuka).

Warning: Hm, Lemon, Lime, Rape, maybe a bit of Yaoi (I am a fan) and whatever the hell else I feel the need to put in. If you don't like shit like that don't read. Oh yeah, swearing too...

Other Warning: If you are fluff-phobic don't read this story. Also this particular chappie will feature a bit of angst on Kag's part. (Hey come on she is finding out she is in love with a demon, that's gotta be tough.)

AN: Thank you for the reviews everyone, they have really helped me out writing this story. I am sorry this one took a bit longr to post but I am writing my ass off here so give me a break. This isn't a prewriten story after all. Anyway like I said above this chappie features a bit of angst, but also a bit of comedy (in my opinion) so hopefully that will make up for it. Now I also know a bunch of you are anxious for Inu and Kag to get together but I am taking it slow, as they are both amazingly immature when it comes to their feelings. I hope you guys aren't getting too impatient. Anyway please keep reviewing! Enjoy.
____________________

Part 4

Kagome’s jerkish alarm once again told her it was time for another happy day at school, all sarcasm included. Worse than that, it was the day before that damn dance which meant Hobo, erm Hojo would most likely be asking her to go with him today. She went through her standard routine getting ready for school, only lamenting briefly about not completely finishing her math homework. She was slipping behind in that class and she knew it.

With a wave to her family Kagome ran down he home’s steps and took off towards the corner she always met her friends so they could walk together. Soon enough Kagome heard the shrill giggles of her friends.

“Hey Kagome-chan!” Eri, Yuka, and Ayumi ran over.

“Hey Eri, Yuka, Ayumi!” Kagome replied with a wave as she fell into step next to the trio.

“Sooo... The dance is tomorrow, you guys excited?” Yuka asked as she linked arms with Kagome and Ayumi. Eri linked onto Kagome’s other arm.

“Yes!” Ayumi and Eri replied together, sharing matching grins.

“I guess so.” Kagome replied with a shrug. “Guess I’m not so hot about it because I don’t have a date.”

“Nani?! Hojo-kun hasn’t asked you yet?” Eri asked, her brown eyes going wide.

“No he hasn’t. Actually I was a bit surprised myself.” Kagome replied, furrowing her brow in a thoughtful way.

Ayumi, the ever hopeful one of the group, merely smiled and said, “Don’t worry Kagome-chan I am sure he will ask you today!”

“Yeah... right...” Kagome trailed off with a heavy sigh. Truth was she wasn’t exactly excited at the thought of spending an entire evening with Hojo. But it was still better than not having a date at all.

A smirk slowly formed on Eri’s face and she nudged Kagome with her elbow while saying slyly, “I bet Kagome was hoping her mystery boyfriend would come with her.”

Kagome’s blood froze in her veins and she swore her heart stopped beating for a second. “NANI!?! He is NOT my boyfriend! I don’t even know what he is! Besides even if he WAS my boyfriend which he is NOT I would NEVER want him to ask me!”

By the end of her speech Kagome had unlinked both her arms and was making gestures of denial while shaking her head furiously. Eri was still smirking, “Whatever you say Kagome-chan! You can’t hide him forever.”

With that her three friends ran off to their separate classes, leaving Kagome standing there, completely dumbstruck. Eri was a little too good with her love life for Kagome’s sanity.

“Higurashi-san!” Her blood froze again, she didn’t need this, not now! She turned, her ever faithful fake smile plastered on her face, to see a boy with dark brown hair and warm brown eyes running towards her.

“Hojo-kun.” Kagome returned, waiting, still frozen, for the inevitable.

The aforementioned boy strode up to Kagome’s side, that idiotic grin plastered all over his face. Gods how she wanted to just melt into the floor and disappear. Hopefully to reappear in Inuyasha’s strong arms... Wait what?! Actually she just needed to stop thinking.

“So I was wondering, the spring dance is tomorrow, and if you don’t already have a date I was thinking we could go together?” Target locked, no avoiding it now, she was dead. Kagome seemed to unfreeze in an almost painfully slowly way. Her foot tapped the ground nervously as she stuttered to find words.

She had no excuse and she wasn’t the type of girl who would just turn down a guy for fear of hurting his feelings. The problem was she really did like Hojo as a friend, but nothing more. Kagome sighed and took a brave look into his eyes before mumbling, “Um, I guess that would be okay Hojo-kun.”

His grin became even wider and he almost skipped as he said, “Alright I’ll pick you up at six!” With a wave Hojo took off up the hallway, grinning happily and almost tripping down the stairs.

Sweet maybe, but the perfect man for her, Kagome didn’t think so. She wanted someone who was brave, strong, someone who could protect her... Kagome shook her head firmly clearing away certain dangerous mental pictures that were surfacing in her mind. Then with the realization that she was going to be late for class she took off up the hall.

The day passed in an agonizingly slowly fashion. The teachers (her math one in particular) seemed to enjoy long, boring lectures that didn’t tell her a damn thing about the assignment in the long run. Finally the glorious ending bell rang out and Kagome practically jumped for joy.

“Hey Kagome-chan!” Yuka called, waving her over to the front of the school where her trio of friends were waiting.

As soon as Kagome walked up Eri practically pounced on her and asked, “So did Hojo-kun ask you?”

Kagome sighed, she had almost managed to forget about that, “Yeah he did. He’s picking me up at six.”

“That’s great! So what are you wearing?” Yuka asked with a smile, knowing what was coming next.

“Oh gosh! I have no idea! And the dance is tomorrow.” Kagome groaned, leaning heavily against the wall. She thought going with Hojo was bad enough now she had to worry about what to wear.

“Don’t worry Kagome-chan. I’m here for you, we’ll find you something in no time!” Yuka said with her ever widening grin. Tip 1 for a happy life with Yuka: never enter a store with her.

“No really Yuka I’m sure I can find som–“ Kagome was cut off abruptly as Yuka linked arms with her and literally dragged her out of the school building and down the street.

Twenty minutes later Kagome found herself in the local mall as Yuka showered her with different dresses that would apparently “look stunning” on her. Kagome swore that she was going to collapse under the weight if Yuka handed her one more thing. It wasn’t like Kagome didn’t like shopping, she was a teenage girl after all, but Yuka’s power shopping was something she could live without.

“Okay Kagome-chan I think we can go try them on now. Remember you have to come out and show me every single one.” Yuka said with a wink, pulling Kagome over to the dressing rooms.

“Nani?!” Kagome barely had time to protest as Yuka shoved her in the room and closed the door after her.

She let out a long sigh and dumped the dresses down on the stool next to her and leaned against the wall catching her breath. Couldn’t Yuka just pick out a few dresses that were sure to work? Half of those things looked like what a stripper would wear. Kagome frowned in distaste and began to search through the pile.

Finally after another fifteen minutes of searching through Yuka’s picks she found a dress. It wasn’t exactly the most amazing thing but it was cheap and she was only going with Hojo right?

The dress in question was a light sky blue, fitted at the waist and flaring out slightly after her hips. It came just below her knees and had a modest v-cut in the front and a slightly revealing back.

With her nightmare of shopping over and done with Kagome and Yuka exited the store with her purchases and began to walk home.

“Kagome-chan you seem a bit out of it today is anything wrong?” Yuka asked in worried tones. She had begun to notice her friend’s odd behavior over the past few days.

“Huh?” Kagome had caught herself thinking – no more like obsessing about Inuyasha once again. Why did that man, erm demon, whatever have to haunt her mind every minute of every day? Then she realized that she was staring at Yuka dumbly and tried desperately to cover it up. “No really Yuka-chan I’m fine. I was just um, thinking! Yeah that’s it.”

“Kagome... Come on I’m your best friend. You can’t hide it from me, you have been acting strange ever since you met that mystery guy of yours.” Kagome was shocked into speechlessness, mainly because she had never given her friends that much credit on knowing about her love life, or anything else for that matter. She had been under the impression that when it came to serious matters not any of them had a clue. Well she was obviously wrong.

“Um, I guess so.” Was the only reply that Kagome could speak without choking and dying there in the middle of the street.

“So really Kagome-chan, what is this guy like? I know that you won’t say a word in front of the others but we have known each other forever.” Yuka said with a gentle smile, linking an arm with Kagome as the two continued to walk.

Kagome felt a pang of worry shoot through her body like a sword wound. What would her friends do if they knew she was sneaking out every night to see a demon? Things like this were just not done in today’s world. Demons were fine if they kept to themselves and didn’t mingle with humans more than was absolutely necessary. It was unheard of that a demon and human come together as friends much less lovers.

She subconsciously bit the bottom of her lip in worry. Her friends would probably lecture her to no ends about all the trouble she could get in. Her mother might actually except it with cautioned warnings, only to worry each and every day about it. Her grandpa... well she didn’t even want to go there.

“Look Yuka, I don’t want to get into it right now okay? I just can’t handle it with the dance coming up and everything. I’m gonna head home.” Kagome said almost vaguely. She gave her best friend a small bow out of apology and took off up the street before Yuka could say anything in protest.

So she had just been hit by the seriousness of her “relationship” with Inuyasha, if you could call two teens talking a relationship. Kagome sighed, she knew that even if there were no problems with people accepting there friendship Inuyasha still probably didn’t even want to befriend her much less... No! She wouldn’t think about that. She was in deep enough water as it was.

She knew she shouldn’t ever see him again, for both their sakes, so why did the thought of a life without him almost reduce her to tears? Even now she missed his voice, his cocky attitude, the feeling of his furry ears under her fingers...

By the time she got home she was glad that her family were out at the movies and she didn’t have to share a house with them. If Yuka had noticed odd behavior from her, her mother was bound too.

Kagome flopped down on her bed, her homework lying conveniently forgotten on her desk. Soon she was drifting off into a peacefully relaxed sleep.

Little did she know as she slept a certain inu hanyou was waiting for her...

Inuyasha jumped almost lazily from one rooftop to another, his mind buzzing with worry. That wench, Kagome hadn’t showed up at the bridge, and much to his distaste he couldn’t let go of the fact that something might have happened to her. It wasn’t safe for a human girl to wander around at night.

So currently Inuyasha found himself tracking Kagome’s scent through the city. It was a fairly easy task seeing as his head was constantly filled with thoughts about her jasmine and honey smell. Not to mention her beautiful face and shining eyes.

He growled slightly, now was NOT the time for foolish fantasies. Gods what was wrong with him lately. He should never have gone remotely near that damn park in the first place, would have saved him a lot of unnecessary thinking. But he had and now he was stuck with foolish thoughts about a human wench, not to mention he was jumping through Tokyo trying to find said human wench.

Finally he came to house with a giant tree growing next to it. Kagome’s scent was pouring out a window next to one f the larger branches so Inuyasha made a light leap onto the branch, only to look through the window to find Kagome asleep on her bed.

Inuyasha, daring a bit too much, jumped from the branch through the window to land next to the sleeping girl. “Damn all this effort and she’s fucking asleep. Remind me why I even came.” He muttered sarcastically.

He realized now that he probably should not have done that because Kagome’s eyes fluttered open. Startled blue met even more scared gold. For what seemed like eternity the two just stared at each other, but even eternity has to end some time.

“Inuyasha?!?” Kagome shrieked as she tried to scoot back on the bed but merely ended up tangling herself in the sheets and landing with a hard smack on the floor.

“Keh!” Inuyasha huffed turning slightly to the side and blushing crimson. Not only had he been caught, she didn’t look like she was going to let him leave very easily. Never before had he felt so incredibly stupid in his life.

“What in the world are you doing in my room?!” Kagome yelled, yep her same spark was still there and Inuyasha had a feeling that it was about to be set on fire.

“Keh! You were the one who never showed up wench!” Inuyasha said stubbornly, but the red blush on his cheeks spoke for itself. Damn he needed to stop blushing! She probably thought he was some sort of stalker, great.

Kagome had a smug smile on her face which was freaking out Inuyasha even more than yelling would, “I get it you were worried about me.”

“So what! It’s not like it was worth my time, go back to SLEEPING why don’t ya!” Inuyasha yelled back, realizing his mistake a moment too late. He had agreed with her statement. Why did it have to be him! He should have just said “no way” but the words had somehow gotten lost on the way to his mouth.

“Hey its not my fault I was tired! I have school and homework and a LIFE ya know!” Kagome yelled back, although on the inside she was doing a very happy dance. He cared about her!

“Well great for you! Fuck this I’m leaving. Last time I worry about some nosey wench like you.” Inuyasha yelled, springing out the window and into the night, leaving Kagome staring after him.

Anger, rage, happiness, sadness, and exasperation melded into one very complicated emotion and Kagome flopped back down on her bed and screamed her head off into her pillow, if only to relieve some of the stress.

“Inuyasha no baka! First he says he cares, then he yells at me and calls me names. Can’t he just decide!” Kagome asked herself, peeling her face back from the pillow and lying down for a very unrestful night of sleep.

Inuyasha jumped back along the buildings “keh-ing” to himself every so often. That miserable little bitch. He came all that way and what did he get? A good yelling at that’s what. Why did he have to care so fucking much? She shouldn’t matter to him.

If he just left what would the damage be? Would she even care? That was why he had gone looking for her that night, a secret part of him was afraid. Afraid that she would never come back, afraid that she would leave him all alone again.

____________________

AN: So how was this part? Please review and let me know? Flames aren't nice but great for toasting marshmellows! Anyway before you guys kill me... I HAD TO! Yep that is my excuse, I know a lot of you probably aren't too happy about Hojo-kun taking Kagome to the dance, but like I said it is a must for the story. Believe me this is NOT a Hojo friendly fic. He is gonna get bashed a lot (by guess who...).