So I fail at updating...big deal. Read the story anyway. And review...or I'll cry or something. Neat, huh. Okay. Well, this chapter isn't anything special, mainly because I can't seem to find the right inspiration. I'm too damn happy to write a depressing story, but it's just to get my back into gear...so enjoy, and again...REVIEW. Please?

Chapter Five: No Good Deed Goes Unpunished

"...The things you stole..."

Kagome approached her locker with a smile on her face. She could feel it already, today would be different. Humming, happily to herself, she turned the dial on the lock, and pulled it open. The moment she pulled the door open, a neatly folded sheet of paper fell at her feet.

Her name was in bold, black, print on the side of the paper that she could see.

Balancing her school books in one arm, Kagome bent down and picked up what she assumed was a letter. She set the books in her locker and opened the letter, carefully, as if she were afraid of it.

Meet me out front during lunch.

-Kouga

Kagome smiled, brightly and had to work to supress a girlish giggle that threatened to escape her lips. She was right...she was in control. Kouga was going to apologize, explain himself, she would forgive him, they would share a long embrace, and everything would be okay.

There was an apparent bounce in her step as she walked to her homeroom class. Nothing could have possibly ruined her mood at that moment.

Sango was already seated in her assigned desk, drawing absent-mindedly on the cover of her notebook.

"Hi, Sango!" Kagome greeted her, loudly.

Sango looked up, and smiled. "You're in a better mood. Care to tell me why?"

Kagome sat down and stared at Sango's notebook for a moment, as if immersed in deep thought. "I just got a lot of sleep is all." She didn't think that it was an excuse. After all...she HAD gotten more sleep than the night before, and for all she knew, that could be why she was feeling better.

"Mhm." Sango nodded, and went back to drawing.

Kagome's hand tightened around the folded note that she still held. Only a couple more hours and everything would be back to normal. She would be able to resume her life again, happy, and healthy. She glanced at the clock...

...Only a few more hours.

The day went by excruciatingly slowly. Even creative writing, her favorite class, seemed to drag on forever. All she wanted was for the bell to ring to signal that the students could leave for lunch. She wanted nothing more than to go and talk to him.

"Kaagoomee..."

"Hm!?" Kagome snapped her head around.

Inuyasha was giving her a look that could pass for somewhere between that of confusion, and concern. "Are you done reading it yet?"

The two of them had been partnered together in Creative Writing. She was supposed to have been reading and revising the beginning of his short story, but she'd gotten as far as reading the title, before her thoughts were consumed once again with the idea of speaking to Kouga in less than half an hour.

"Oh, yeah...good." she replied, off-handedly. She really wasn't in the mood to do any reading right now.

He looked at her intently before answering, "Tch. You don't have to lie. I don't care if you don't like it."

She caught his eye, before looking back down at the paper. There were only a few paragraphs, but she re-read them over to make sure she hadn't made a mistake. They were amazing, really amazing. She looked back up at Inuyasha's eager face.

"Wow...Really. Wow."

Inuyasha allowed a smile to appear on his face. "I mean, it's not great or anything I just started, so-"

She cut him off. "It's better than anything I've ever read by someone our age...or anyone, for that matter. You really have amazing talent." She was certain that was the millionth time she'd thought to use the word amazing in less than five minutes.

"Really?" he asked the question as if he'd never been complimented before.

Kagome nodded her head vigirously. "The imagery you created...it's so vivid..." she trailed off, as if she couldn't even think of words to describe how incredible his writing was.

"Wow, thanks." He looked truely shocked.

"Have you never been complimented before, or something?" she asked, incredulously.

He shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly. "No one's ever really seen anything. I didn't think it was worth showing 'em. But, thanks." He smiled at her.

After reading that, Kagome was almost embarassed to ask what his opinion was on hers.

Luckily, she was saved from certain humiliation by the bell. Wow. She'd been so distracted talking to Inuyasha about his writing, that she'd almost forgotten about her upcoming conversation...almost. She hurridly gathered her books together and left the classroom.

Inuyasha stared in the direction she'd ran for a few moments, before shrugging again. He looked down at the papers he still held in his hand. What there was to Kagome's short story. He'd meant to tell her what he thought of it. He considered going after her, but she seemed to be in a hurry.

Kagome was practically breathless by the time she reached the school's entrance. She'd run the entire way. Kouga was no where to be seen, so she made herself comfortable on a bench. The wind was almost has harsh as it had been earlier in the week, and Kagome hugged herself tightly to retain as much body heat as was physically possible.

Five minutes later, Kouga walked over to where Kagome was sitting, with his hands shoved in his pockets.

At the sight of him, Kagome jumped from her current position to her feet.

"Hi!" she said, as brightly as she could have possibly managed.

"Hello." His voice was cool, and concentrated, but Kagome either didn't notice, or she didn't care.

She smiled at him. "So, what's going on?" The smile never faded from her features.

He stared her directly in the eye. "About a few days ago..." he trailed off.

Kagome's smile widened. "Don't worry! I understand completely!"

Kouga didn't speak. He just continued to stare at the happy girl in front of him. She was making his job easier, what did he care?

"Really?" he finally spoke.

She nodded her head slowly, and Kouga allowed the slight hint of a smirk to be visible on his face.

Kagome shivered, and Kouga moved toward her, taking one hand out of his pocket and wrapping his arm around her.

"Come on, it's fucking cold."

She let him lead her back to school.

Hm. So, thanks for reading. I'm happy to be writing again.

Again. Reviews make me more interested in writing...yes...yes I am trying to bribe you. Has it worked?