3 months had passed since the final battle against Naraku and the destruction of the Shikon Jewel, and Kenshiro had moved back to Karakura Town, having gotten his own apartment, being financially supported by Kazuma and Hiyori back in Tokyo.
Kagome had moved in with a friend of Tatsuki's.
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Ichigo looked at a picture of him, Kenshiro and Kagome when they were 12, about a week before Kenshiro moved 'Tomorrow I'll find out the answer, I'll find out if you kept your promise from that day Kenshiro.' then he went to sleep.
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Kenshiro looked around his new apartment 'I guess this is home for now.' he looked at a family portrait from when he was 8 'Tou-san, Kaa-san, I'm finally back. I promise, I'll make both of you proud.' then he looked at a picture of him, Ichigo and Kagome when they were 12 'Get ready Ichigo, tomorrow you'll remember that I always keep my word, especially to my lifelong best friend.'
Tomorrow would be a good day.
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Next day came.
Kenshiro made his way to school, for once not even thinking about meeting up with the love of his life 'Get ready Ichigo, the Duo of Badass will finally reunite.'
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Ichigo rushed through the kitchen out the door 'Come on Kenshiro, you've never let me down before so don't start now! Catch you guys later!"
"Wait a minute onii-chan, what about breakfast?!" Yuzu called.
"Sorry Yuzu, I'll be back before noon! Leave it there, I'll eat it later!"
"But I fried you an egg, it'll be cold by then!"
Karin sighed "Come on Yuzu, you can't blame him for rushing. After all, you know what today is."
"Karin-chan, just because he's starting high school doesn't mean he should skip breakfast."
"Not that. Today's the day Kenshiro's supposed to move back. Remember that promise he made 7 years ago? He said that if he got with Kagome-chan before he started high school then he'd move back here to start high school with Ichi-nii, of course he'd be excited."
"I guess you're right…"
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Mizuiro was dropped off at the school 'A new uniform and a new school, well I guess I should start feeling the same way any other new student would feel. I wonder if Kenshiro's really gonna make it back.'
Keigo and Mizuiro had originally been students at Kenshiro and Kagome's middle school, but they had moved and transferred to Karakura junior high around 9th grade.
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Kenshiro shot Kagome a raised eyebrow "So you've already joined the archery club?"
Kagome shot him a bright smile "Yeah, it's like a reminder of the great adventure that got us together in the first place. I've already met this one guy, he's kind of bland and distant but he's a real softie underneath. He's kind of like a cross between you and Sesshomaru." she saw Uryu up ahead of them "Oh hey, there he is. Ishida-kun, back here!"
Uryu stopped and looked back at her "Oh Higurashi-san, I was wondering if you were going to make it." then he noticed Kenshiro beside her.
Kenshiro remained calm, but smirked slightly "Uryu Ishida-san." he held out his hand.
Uryu accepted the hand "Kenshiro-san, I was wondering if you would make it. You gave my such a challenge on the entrance exam, I would miss having an academic rival."
Kagome blinked "You two know each other?"
"We're not entirely sure how, but we ended up competing against each other during the entrance exams." explained Kenshiro "I wouldn't say we're friends, more like we respect each other as intellectual equals." then he noticed Keigo and Mizuiro over at the class lists "Alright Kagome, I'll see you later." he pecked her on the lips and walked off.
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"Hey Keigo, Mizuiro! What's up guys?"
Mizuiro looked to see Kenshiro walking towards them "Hey Kenshiro, long time no see."
"Yeah, 2 years. So what's Keigo freaking out about this time?"
"Apparently there are these two delinquents named Ichigo and Chad attending this school in the same class as us."
"Ichigo? There's no way that's right. I don't know about this Chad guy, but Ichigo's the farthest thing from a delinquent."
"You know this guy?"
"Are you kidding? He's been my best friend since we were three. Things changed when I met the love of my life, Kagome Higurashi. I had it bad, so bad that I moved to Tokyo with my brother when he started college just so I could see her. But now we're a couple, going steady for 6 months, and I moved back here to reunite with Ichigo."
"I see. You're a good guy Kenshiro, if you say he's okay then I'll give him a chance."
"Thanks."
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Kagome had met up with Orihime and Tatsuki in the classroom, where she became the target of Chizuru.
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Ichigo knelt down in front of the spirit of a little girl, completely ignoring the stares he was receiving "Come on, tell me what's the matter. I brought you some flowers again, I picked them myself. What's making you so sad?"
"It's just that something's not right." the girl whimpered "I'm afraid of the sky."
Ichigo looked up "The sky? Why?"
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Karin noticed as well.
Yuzu did not.
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"Well, I'd better head up to the classroom to surprise Ichigo. Later guys." and Kenshiro dashed off.
Keigo was still crying anime tears "Goodbye cruel world. Why? Why did this have to happen?"
Then Chad and Ichigo suddenly burst through the wall fighting two other guys.
Keigo was immediately terrified as they were surrounded by at least 10 more guys.
Mizuiro went up to them and held out his hand "Mizuiro Kojima from Hiragi Junior high, I'm in class 1-3."
Ichigo raised an eyebrow "Class 1-3? We're all in the same class then. I'm Ichigo Kurosaki, this guy here is Chad Yasutora. Nice to meet you. Who's your friend over there?"
Mizuiro looked to where Keigo was pleading for his life under a guy's foot "That's Keigo Asano, he doesn't do too well in school but he's a pretty smart guy. Honest, likable, loyal. What can I say? He's 100 times better than me."
"Wow, you're incredible. I mean, for someone to have so many nice things to say about his friend is pretty rare nowadays. I can only think of one guy who'd say so much, or that I could say that much about for that matter." he turned back to the thugs "Mizuiro, how are you at making up excuses?"
"I'm so good it's sick."
"Then put those skills to use!" a voice called.
Ichigo looked up to see someone standing on the ledge of a 3rd floor window "Kenshiro?!"
"BANZAI!" Kenshiro leapt out the window and dove down towards the thugs, slamming his fist into the ground and causing a shockwave that blew all the thugs away "Hey Ichigo, what's up?"
Ichigo stopped gaping and took him into a bro-hug "Kenshiro! I thought you weren't coming!"
"Come on man, when have I ever let you down? Never, and that's not starting on our first day of high school." then he looked over to Chad "So who's your friend?"
"Yasutora Sado." Chad introduced "Ichigo calls me Chad for reasons I don't know."
Kenshiro bumped fists with him "Kenshiro Kamikaze." then he turned to Mizuiro "Anyway Mizuiro, you've got 3 minutes tops to come up with something that keeps us from getting suspended for pulling Keigo's ass out of the fire. So Ichigo, you in?"
Ichigo smirked "Just like old times, my friend." he charged in first, with Kenshiro following right behind, and Chad right behind him.
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10 minutes later, Ichigo and the others were making their way to class "So Kenshiro, if you're here then does that mean Kagome's here too?"
"Yeah, she's staying with Inoue-san. You know, Tatsuki-san's friend with the hairpins." then he went into the classroom first.
Tatsuki turned and gaped at him "Kenshiro?"
"Hey Tatsuki-san, what's up? Oh hey Kagome."
Then Kagome went up to him and pecked him on the cheek, then turned to Ichigo and hugged him "Hey Ichigo-kun, long time no see."
Ichigo returned the hug and grinned slyly "I'm just glad you finally took a hint and finally noticed how he felt."
"Don't remind me, I'll never stop regretting that."
"You're lucky to have someone like Kenshiro."
"And Kenshiro's lucky to have a friend like you."
All seemed right with the world.
Nobody had any idea what was about to happen…