I don't own any of the characters from the manga or the show. This story is set several years after the manga is complete. If you haven't read the manga to see the conclusion to the series, this story could spoil it for you. One last thing, I hope my Japanese-like names sound okay and don't translate into weird phrases.
The classroom was silent while some of the students were taking their test. Some had already finished and were waiting patiently for the bell to ring so that they could go home. The teacher looked at the clock. 'Only ten more minutes,' she thought, nervously adjusting her her long black hair. 'I hope everyone gets finished.' She went back to planning the next week's lessons. She had only started teaching two weeks before and was having to get used to the job. 'I just have to make sure they learn better than I did when I was a student,' the woman thought with a small smile. She was almost too nervous to think about next week. If everybody failed this test, how could she continue teaching them.
She jumped as the bell rang. She stood up and raised her voice so that she could be heard over the shuffling of feet and papers as the kids got ready to leave. "Turn your papers over and I will have them graded by the beginning of next week. Please start reading the next chapter of your history books for a pop quiz on Monday."
Most of the students cheerfully waved at their teacher as they left the classroom. A couple left the room like they were going to a funeral. She wasn't looking forward to grading their papers. She began collecting the tests from each of the desks. Just as she was picking up the last test she heard a knock that came from the door. She looked and saw a young man about her age. "Yes, can I help you?"
He stepped forward. "Kagome Higurashi, you don't recognize me?"
Kagome looked at him closely. "Hojo!" she cried. "It's been a long time since I saw you last."
Hojo smiled. "It's been too long." He stepped further into the room. "You teach my niece, Motoki. I thought it might be you she was talking about so I had to come and see for myself."
"Ah, Motoki's your niece," Kagome said. "I shouldn't be surprised. So far she seems to be the brightest in the class." Kagome nervously shuffled her feet. "So, how have you been lately?"
"I've been doing great. I'm running our shop right now and we're having great business. You should stop by sometime if you want." Hojo suddenly realized what he said. "You don't have to buy anything if you don't want to. You can just come by to look or to visit."
Kagome smiled. "I might just do that."
"So, how long have you been teaching?"
Kagome laid the stack of papers on her desk and leaned against it. "I've only been teaching for two weeks. I always thought the students had it rough, I never thought the teachers had that much to worry about. I wish I had shown a little more appreciation to my teachers."
"I'm sure you'll do fine, Kagome." Hojo said, happily. Then his face got serious. "I came to talk to you shortly after we graduated, but your mother said you had went to live abroad. It made me sad that you didn't say goodbye."
"Sorry, it all happened pretty suddenly," Kagome said. "I hardly had time say bye to my family."
"You were gone for three years," Hojo said. "What made you come back?"
"Eh," Kagome hesitated. She couldn't tell him all the details, but she didn't want to lie to him. "My situation changed. It started off well over there, but I decided it would be best for everybody if I came here to live here again."
"I see," Hojo said. "I don't think your mother said what country you were living in. Would it be okay if I asked?"
Kagome's face drooped, then snapped back to normal. "Uh, sure, it's okay if you ask."
Hojo gave Kagome a few moments to answer before asking, "Um, so what country did you live in for those three years?"
"Oh, um, I, uh, I lived in-" Kagome had begun to stutter, when the two of them were interrupted by a loud voice saying, "Hey, Kagome, we're all starving. How long is it going to take you to finish up today?"
The two of them looked over towards the door and saw an unusual looking man standing there. He had long white hair and golden eyes. He was wearing normal clothes for modern Japan, including a baseball cap. Two young kids, a boy and a girl, were holding onto his back.
Kagome gave the three of them a big smile. "Inuyasha, you're a bit late today, aren't you?"
"Heh," Inuyasha grunted. "Hiro's teacher wanted to speak to me. She said that he had been fighting with one of the other students. She scolded me when I insisted in knowing who won. It wouldn't have killed the old bat to let me know if my son could kick some ass."
"Inuyasha!" Kagome yelled. "What have I told you about using bad language? If you keep acting that way in front of the children, there's no telling what type of hooligans they'll become. You should discourage them from fighting and acting foolish. We don't need any more of that kind in this family."
"But, Mama," Hiro started. "Dan said that my dad looked like a freak. I told him that he shouldn't say that so he pushed me. I just pushed back by instinct. The teacher didn't see him push me."
Kagome's face softened as her and Inuyasha exchanged a glance. "We'll talk about it later." She gave Hiro a hug and a kiss on the forehead. Then she did the same to her daughter, Miori. "Would you all wait for me outside on the playground. I'll be out as soon as I can."
"Sure," Inuyasha said. "We'll be waiting." He nodded at Hojo then took off out the door.
Kagome stuck her head out the door and called, "No running in the hall, Inuyasha!" She saw her husband slow down to a quick pace as he turned to go down the stairs. She sighed and walked back over to Hojo.
"Was that your husband and children?" Hojo asked, trying to hide his disappointment.
"Yeah, that's Inuyasha and my children. My son, Hiro, is seven, and my daughter, Miori, is six. They're very spirited at times." She made a face. "They sure didn't get that from me."
"I'm glad that you're happy," Hojo said, a little too cheerfully.
Kagome gave Hojo a smile. "I'm sure you've got a wife and kids by now, right?"
Hojo looked embarrassed. "No, I've actually been too busy with college and the store to find a wife." Kagome got the feeling that he wasn't telling the whole truth.
"Well, I'm sure you'll find one soon." She sat down behind the desk. "I really enjoyed seeing you again, Hojo, but I really need to start on these tests. Don't worry, we'll stop by the shop sometime. With two children and an irresponsible husband we can never have too much medical supplies."
Hojo gave Kagome a friendly wave. "It was nice to see you again, too. Bye." Hojo quickly retreated through the door.
'Wow,' Kagome thought. 'I didn't expect to meet Hojo again. I hope he is able to get over me pretty soon. Now I better get to work.' She started to grade her first test. As she finished grading it, she felt as if a small weight came off her shoulders. She smiled as she wrote '98' at the top of the paper. 'At least there is one student I didn't fail.' She continued to grade the papers while her family waited for her outside.