Chapter 2: Boxes

"Okay... so supposedly this is the room." Kagome mumbled to herself as she turned the handle.

Kagome looked up, her eyes widened. It was good she was somewhat early, because the classroom was packed. Her eyes searched around the room, hoping and pleading for a place to sit.

Suddenly, over the gentle murmur of voices, she heard someone call out "Oi!"

She looked up to where the sound was coming from. From amidst the crowd of bodies, she saw a young man waving at her. She pointed to herself... Surely, it could NOT be her. But... the young man nodded vigorously. Oh crap...

Slowly, tiptoeing her way through the rows, she managed to see him more clearly. It seemed that he had motioned to her that there was a free seat next to him. She bowed low, "Thank you."

The man waved away the gesture of thankfulness. "No problem. After all, it would be an honor to have such a beautiful girl like you sitting next to me."

Kagome studied him, a mixture of amusement and annoyance on her face. Either he was a pervert or he just liked to play jokes. She laughed and was surprised to see that he was completely serious. People in Tokyo were certainly fascinating. First, two long-haired brothers who looked like they wanted to rip off each other's head, and now a sweet-talking perverted guy.

Unfortunately as it turned out, this was the only seat left in the room, so there was no choice. Silently she asked herself: Why me? Why did it have to be that she met such people? Was her life destined to become a dramatic turn into unreality? Heaving a sigh of defeat, she fell into the chair, only to find the guy staring at her intently. She glared back at him, "Yes?"

He looked away suddenly, "Oh. Nothing."

A few minutes ticked by and Kagome amused herself by playing tidily-winks with paper clips. Finally, she looked up and asked him, "So, I take it you like learning about the medieval societies in Japan?"

He looked at her, slightly entertained, "Why else would I be taking this class?"

Kagome huffed, "It was only a conversation starter."

The man had a look of pity on his face, "Okay, okay. Sorry. I just find it interesting that a girl would take a class about weapons of destruction and impalement."

Kagome looked confused, "Eh?"

The man's face fell as he grinned slightly, "In case you haven't noticed, you're the only girl."

Kagome suddenly turned very red and looked madly around the room. Oh my god, I'm the only girl. Crap!

"It's okay though." The man laughed.

Kagome calmed herself. When handed lemons make lemonade, ne?

"I'm Kagome Higurashi." She smiled cheerily.

"I'm Miroku." He answered, "Sophomore."

Kagome suddenly became flustered, "What, do you want me to call you Miroku-sempai??"

Miroku flushed and closed his eyes as he spoke, "Well, sure, why not? The thought of a young beautiful girl, such as yourself, calling me Miroku-sempai has something strangely... erotic about it."

Kagome turned red. What the hell was wrong with him? "What?!"

"I mean- think about it... as you scream out in a moment of passion you'll acknowledge in that one word that I'm above you. I can control your love." Miroku was now beginning to fantasize in his head. He was beyond all help.

Kagome ignored him until his fantasy stopped (ten minutes later).

"Done yet?" Kagome sighed as she doodled on her paper.

A slight groan came from Miroku, "Yeah, I'm done."

"You're pathetic." Kagome sighed.

The man just grinned playfully, "Welcome to Tokyo."

Kagome laughed and Miroku just smiled. The two regarded each other in a dreamy haze of friendliness.

"Well, I don't know about the erotic part, but there's no way I'm calling you Miroku-sempai." Kagome said.

Miroku just shrugged, "It's your loss."

Kagome rolled her eyes, "Yeah. I'm sure."

Miroku was about to say something, but the professor walked in and called out in a crisp voice, "Attention class."

Within a few seconds the class was quiet enough to hear a pin drop.

Mitsuwa sensei, as it turned out, was a very detailed teacher. He gave out so much information the first day that Kagome wondered how much time she would be spending on papers weekly? The class ended, much to Kagome's delight. Somehow, she had figured that the first classes would be the easiest, with introductions and expectations. However, this was not the case.

She compared her five pages of notes with Miroku, who only had one full page of notes.

"Eh?" Kagome stuttered, "This is all you have?"

"Sure." Miroku shrugged, "I mean, a lot of the stuff he said wasn't really necessary to write down anyways."

Kagome gazed at him in astonishment. "I've got a lot to learn about college."

Miroku grinned, "It's not that bad. You just have to get used to it. The professors like to scare all the wimps away."

I wonder if Inu Yasha will make it?

Kagome shuffled her papers away and looked down at a slip of paper. It had three numbers on it, and the words "Southwest: Suzuran" carefully written down.

Miroku, who was walking past Kagome, turned around to say goodbye. However, Kagome said first, "Eh. Miroku, are you free? I mean, do you have any other classes after this?"

Miroku blinked, and then grinned wickedly, "You're a fast one aren't you? Sure... I have some 'spare time.'"

Kagome flushed, "What!? No! Not that, pervert!"

Miroku sighed in disappointment and mumbled to himself dramatically, "Will I ever find my love?"

She rolled her eyes. Was he for real? What was his deal with love and sex? I mean, sex she could understand, isn't that what most guys were after? But... love? There must be some hidden motives to his personality, she concluded.

Kagome continued on, pretending the whole episode had not even happened. "What I mean is, I don't really know where to go -- that is, I don't know where my dorm is." Kagome sighed.

Miroku grinned, "Sure, I'll show you where it is. After all, being an upperclassman (like myself) you become acquainted with this campus. I'm sure you'll learn the ropes -- sooner or later."

Kagome exclaimed, her face lighting up. "Really?" She bowed down low (a habit by now) "Thank you very much." She decided there and then that this Miroku was not a bad guy, if not a bit perverted.

Miroku continued, the all-too-familiar tone creeping into his voice, "Only if you call me Miroku-sempai."

Kagome grumbled, "I knew there was a catch."

"Etoh... it's... ah, here it is. The room is 312." Kagome mumbled as she and Miroku (sempai) walked down the halls. She reached deep into her pocket and extracted an old worn key. She quickly inserted the key into the lock, anxious to see what a dorm room at Tokyo University would look like. Miroku, who was outside looking up and down the halls anxiously, (ne, this was a girls dorm) called out to Kagome.

"Oi, did the movers bring everything like you asked?"

Kagome looked around the room, the smile on her face quickly fading as she saw the piles of boxes on her side of the room. Crap, she had forgotten she actually needed to put her stuff away. She had been so busy last night at home that she had completely forgotten they were moving in her stuff today. Her eyes shifted to the other side of the room, where someone had already neatly unpacked all her things with organized creativity. Kagome grimaced; she would have a long night ahead of her. It was a good thing that she did not have any more classes today.

Miroku had not even noticed the piles of boxes in the room, "Hello?"

Kagome suddenly popped out and smiled sweetly, "Ne, Miroku-sempai could you help me unpack? I mean it's only a couple of boxes."

Miroku stepped into the room, and before he realized the situation, the words had already flown from his mouth. "Sure, I'll help you... Ka... go.... me....." He looked around the room, a tragic expression of utter defeat.

"What?? Only a couple of boxes?" He groaned as he reached for his forehead.

Kagome smiled warmly, "Please...?"

Miroku heaved a gigantic sigh, as he ran his hands through his short hair, "Okay, but I have a class at seven, so hopefully we should be done by then."

Kagome studied Miroku curiously. He seemed to be a very nice and patient man, and somehow it seemed that she had met him before. She brushed off this nostalgic feeling as she rolled up her sleeves and opened up the cardboard boxes, seeing what they would reveal.

At about six o'clock, Miroku and Kagome turned their heads to the sound of a key in the lock. The two stopped working and peered nervously at the door. About five seconds later the door opened, revealing a girl with long black hair.

Suddenly, Miroku did not look as tired as before. The girl, who had just noticed the two, blinked in surprise. Kagome rushed forward, bowing slightly, "I'm Kagome, Kagome Higurashi. I'm your new roommate."

The girl nodded and smiled. Kagome noted that she was even prettier when she smiled. However, there was a gleam of sorrow in her eyes.

The girl added warmly, "And I'm Sango Kazesaki. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Miroku got up and walked toward the two. Sango's eyes glanced at him, a look of wonder, "And... you are?"

Kagome jumped, she had nearly forgotten about Miroku. "Ah! Sango, this is Miroku."

Sango nodded, her gaze becoming more business-like. "Oh."

Just as Miroku was about to open his mouth, Sango added, "Kagome, do you need any help unpacking?"

Kagome nodded suddenly, "Sure! That would be great. I'm really sorry about leaving all this here. I- erm- well, last night was rather stressful."

Sango just nodded. Although she was not completely at ease with these people, she was sure she could get used to them. Kagome did not seem so bad, but it looked like she would have to watch out for Miroku....

"Thanks so much for helping, Miroku!" Kagome waved from her room as he walked down the hall.

He smiled back, and then added, "Miroku... ?"

Kagome rolled her eyes. Obviously Miroku had not forgotten. "I really appreciate it, Miroku-sempai."

Miroku grinned as he walked away, "No problem, see ya."

Kagome leaned against the door and sighed. So, her first day of college was almost over. What a long day it seemed. She had met so many people: Sango-chan, Miroku, Inu Yasha, and Inu Yasha's brother. Sesshoumaru, was it? He certainly did not seem to be a very cheerful guy. Sesshoumaru had a dangerous look to him, a treacherous yet enticing look to him. Somehow, Kagome knew, there was more to these two brothers than what met the eye.

She walked back inside the now clean and organized room. Sango was putting some books into a small shoulder bag. She looked up, and for almost a split second, Kagome detected that melancholy expression in her eyes again. However, it was gone in a flash.

Sango smiled and sighed apologetically, "Kagome. I have a class to go to. Sorry I couldn't go and show you the best places to eat around here."

Kagome brushed this aside, "It's alright. I think I know a place near here where I could eat."

Sango raised an eyebrow, "Where? Some places around here, well, let's just say they're made for college guys." An image of scantily clad women and beer suddenly ran through Kagome's mind.

Kagome flushed a bit, "Well, actually, do you know Kitsune no Ramen?"

Sango laughed, "Ah! Yes, that's a great little place. It's right off the streets, with only room for like two people?"

Kagome nodded, "Yeah. It's only made for two or three people, but they cook great ramen."

Sango chuckled to herself, "One day we'll go there together."

Kagome smiled, "Alright. It's a promise then."