Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of it's characters

Chapter One

Kagome Higurashi looked up when she heard a sound on her window sill. To her surprise, Inuyasha was staring back at her. She opened her window with a smile as Inuyasha jumped in.

"Hiya Inuyasha," a very cheerful and confused Kagome said. "What brings you here?"

"Kagome, you know that we need to go after Naraku. We don't have time to waste for you to come back for tests all of the time." Inuyasha said indicating to a pile of study books on her bed.

"Inuyasha, how many times do I have to tell you- I need to take my tests! Now don't pester me. Anyway, that isn't what I was working on."

"You mean that you were here for nothing!?" asked Inuyasha. Kagome looked at him sharply and said with a reprimanding tone.

"It is my friends birthday today. We're making a surprise party. Look," she said pulling out a large sheet of paper, "We're making a banner. Here read it Inuyasha!" she said pushing it towards his face.

"Well, what do you think of it?" asked Kagome. Inuyasha stood frozen. How was he going to tell her?

"Well…. Uh…. Its nice" he said. Good he avoided it. He wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead.

Kagome laid the banner on the floor. Walking over to the desk, she pulled out a box of markers and crayons. She handed the crayons to Inuyasha.

"Here, you can help me," she said bending down to work on the banner. Inuyasha stood where he was at. What were these things that Kagome had given him? Besides, he couldn't help.

"Well, Inuyasha are you going to help or not?" she said looking up at him. Inuyasha's ears twitched in nervousness. He made no motion to move.

"Well, Kagome…. I can't." he said. He hoped his voice didn't say what he thought.

"Oh, you can Inuyasha. Don't be shy. Just write happy birthday or something." She looked at him expectantly.

"That's not what I mean Kagome," he said annoyed. He was going to have to tell her.

"Well, what do you mean Inuyasha?" asked a very confused Kagome. Why wouldn't he help?

"Well, I… I can't read and write!" Inuyasha blurted. His face flushed red in embarrassment and he turned away.

Kagome looked at him surprised. "You should have told me Inuyasha. I would have taught you. Here, let me teach you." She stood and lightly placed her hand on his shoulder.

Inuyasha turned around to face her. His eyes were bright in joy. No one had ever offered him. He couldn't wait!

"Thank-you Kagome." He said. He walked off towards her window. He jumped onto the sill.

"Wait, where are you going Inuyasha?" Kagome asked.

"You have a party today," he said. "I will be back tomorrow. Besides, they are your friends- not mine." he said remembering the constant, annoying babble of her friends. Not even writing lessons would could convince him to stay. He jumped out of the window heading for the well.

"Bye! I'll see you tomorrow Inuyasha!" she called out of the window after him. She closed the window, turned around and walked towards the banner. She heard a tapping on the window. Inuyasha was back!

"Kagome," Inuyasha said nervously after she opened the window, " Please don't tell the others I can't read or write. That would be embarrassing."

"Of course not Inuyasha," she said reassuringly. She reached over and scratched him behind the ears.

Inuyasha purred with delight under the smooth touch of her hand before pulling away in embarrassment. "Thank you again," he called as he ran off.

Kagome smiled as she watched him go. Sometimes Inuyasha could be so innocent.