Disclaimer: I DON'T OWN INUYASHA!!! You happy?? Now I'm very depressed!

Chapter Two

The Big Test

Kagome was tired when she got up for breakfast the next morning. She got out of bed and slipped into the shower before her little brother could get in. Once she had bathed, she changed into her school clothes and went downstairs. Her mother was at the stove and greeted her with her usual perky tone.

"Good morning Kagome dear. My, you look tired."

"Studying for chemistry is hard work."

"Oh," her mother set a plate of pancakes in front of her and she began to dig in. "Well, I'm sure you'll do fine on that test today."

Kagome swallowed some of the pancakes hurriedly and ran to get her backpack and books. "Kagome, aren't you going to eat the rest of your breakfast?"

"Can't mom, I promised Sango I'd meet her this morning and walk to school. I'm already late as it is."

"Well, have a good day, dear."

"Bye mom!" Kagome rushed out of the house, down the path, and out of the gate. She hurried to the street where she was to meet Sango and found her friend already waiting for her, looking kind of angry.

"Kagome Higurashi, I told you to call me last night! Where were you?!"

"I'm sorry Sango," Kagome apologized as she reached her friend's side. "But I was sort of attacked in the park." Sango stopped dead in her tracks.

"What?!"

"Yea, it was nothing really."

"Kagome, I told you to let me walk you home! And what do you mean 'sort of attacked'?"

"Well, I thought I was being watched, but I was almost through the park. That's when someone grabbed me and pulled me behind a tree, covering my mouth so I couldn't scream." Sango was hooked on her every word, her eyes growing larger by the minute. "A voice told me to be quiet and the guy pointed out two men that were looking for me. Both were drunk and wanted to attack me, but the boy had pulled me out of the way."

"Boy?"

"Yea, he looked to be our age. Anyway, once the men were gone, he told me that many drunks go to the park at night looking to make some mischief. He had even seen the same men attacked and raped a girl, and when they left he took her to the hospital."

"Wow, he saved you just like that? Without even knowing you or anything?"

"Yup."

"What a hero!" She said, her eyes getting extremely wide.

"Not really, he was kind of a jerk," Kagome said, her cheeks turning red in anger.

"What? How was he a jerk, he saved you!"

"Yea, but when I tried to thank him, he insulted me by saying I could have never taken care of myself. Then he went on to call me a wench!"

"No he didn't!" Sango said, anger rising in her head. "How dare he! He had no right, whatsoever!"

"My thoughts exactly. But I did notice something strange about him."

"What?"

"He had golden eyes."

"Golden eyes? Kagome, that's just not possible."

"I saw them, Sango! I think he had dark hair, but I couldn't tell. All I saw were his eyes glowing in the moonlight."

"Wow."

"I could have had a crush on him if he hadn't called me a bitch."

Sango stopped again, gawking at Kagome. "He called you a bitch too?!"

"Yea."

"Wow, he really is a jerk!" Sango began walking beside her friend again. "Well, at least you don't have to see him anymore. If he does go to our school, there're too many people. What are the odds of you bumping into him in the halls?"

"True."

"Anyway, Kagome did you talk to your mom?"

"Oh yea, she called your dad last night and said it was ok."

"Well, there's been a slight change in plans." Sango sounded hesitant.

"What is it, Sango?"

"Um, father's RV broke down. He leant it to a friend of his and they got into an accident." Kagome gawked at Sango. "Don't worry, they're all fine, but the RV isn't. The engine won't start and it's all smashed up. Dad says it won't be fixed in time for our trip. He said we could rent one, but it's too expensive for him to afford."

"If it's too expensive for your dad, then it's too expensive for my mom. What if we raised some money?"

"That would work. I just don't know how we could get that much money in time. There are only a few weeks left of school, Kagome."

"I know. I guess we won't be able to get the money in time." Kagome could see Sango had a mischievous look on her face. "Sango, what are you thinking?"

"Oh, I think I just found an investor," she said looking at a young man sitting under a tree in front of the school. Kagome followed her gaze.

"Miroku?"

"Yup." Sango hurried to the tree where Miroku sat, focused on a book. "Hi Miroku," Sango said as cheerfully as she could. The young man looked up at her and smiled.

"Ah, Sango, good morning. And to what do I owe this delightful occasion?"

"Well, Miroku, you know that you, Kagome, and I have been friends for a very long time."

"Ever since we were five. Yes, I remember the first time I saw your sweet smiling face," he said as charmingly as he could.

"Whatever," Sango cut him off. "How would you like to help out a couple of old friends?"

Miroku closed the book he had been studying and sat it beside him. "I'm interested. What do you need?"

"Well, Kagome and I were planning on going on a very educational trip around Japan, you know, to see the arts and the culture around us."

"Uh huh…"

"We were supposed to take my father's RV, but a friend of his accidentally totaled it, and we do not have the money or the time to repair it. Also, our parents can't afford to rent one for the summer, so Kagome and I might not be able to go on this trip we have looked forward to for so long."

"Sango, I only found out about it yes…"

"Hush, Kagome!" Sango snapped. "Anyway," she went on in a sweet voice, smiling at Miroku. "We are trying to raise money on our own. Would you like to donate anything to your dear old friends?" she asked, looking at him with innocence in her eyes.

Miroku laughed. "Well, you know I can't resist that face." He got up from the tree and brushed off his pants. "I'll tell you what; I'll give you the money to buy a new RV if you agree to a simple proposition."

"Anything!" Sango yelled eagerly.

"I'll give you the money for a state-of-the-art RV only if you agree to go on a date with me." Sango's enthusiasm left her entirely.

"What, are you cra…"

"She'll do it!" Kagome covered her friend's mouth.

Sango bit her and yelled, "Like hell I will! He's a letch! You know all he'll do is try to grope me or something!"

"Sango, I'm hurt," Miroku remarked, trying to look wounded.

"Oh save it, Miroku! I would never go on a date with you!"

"Ok then, if you won't go on a date, then let me come on the trip with you."

"What?!" Kagome quickly cover Sango's mouth.

"Let's hear him out." Sango relented and sighed.

"We'll split the expenses, but of course the RV would be paid for by me. Don't worry; I'll sleep in a different hotel room. Plus, with my money, we'll be able to stay at only the best places. Come on Sango, you know this is the only way you'll get that RV."

"Sango, he's got a point," Kagome pleaded.

"I don't know…"

"Come on Sango, he's our only chance. I really want to go on this trip! He won't do anything, I promise."

"I don't know…"

"He won't really, will you, Miroku?"

"Of course not. I'll be a good boy."

"Come on Sango, we're all friends here, it could be fun."

"Well," Sango sighed. She was overruled. "If he tries to make one move on me, I swear, I will throw him out of the RV myself and let him land where ever!"

"YES!" Kagome shouted, hugging her friend.

"Why Sango, I didn't know you cared so much…"

"Shove it, Miroku!"

"Tsk, tsk, now that's not the way to treat a fellow road buddy."

"Look, I'll have to talk it over with my father before I make any promises."

"Good, your father loves me."

"Only because you won the championship basketball game for him in the third grade!"

"Still, he loves me." The bell rang from inside and Kagome grabbed Sango before she could do any physical harm to Miroku.

"Come on Sango, we'll be late for class."

"Alright, alright."

Classes were boring as always and seemed to drag on forever since school was almost out for summer. Kagome began falling asleep in her history class. Her teacher had a very monotone voice that droned on forever. Man, is he never going to shut up? Kagome looked at the clock. It's only been five minutes?! It seemed like thirty minutes already passed! This will never end. The bell rang as she lost track of time. Finally! LUNCH!!

Kagome quickly grabbed her books and rushed out of the classroom right before Hojo could speak to her. She didn't even notice him staring at her all through class. Outside her classroom, Sango was already waiting for Kagome.

"Come on, I'm hungry."

"Alright, just let me go to my locker first."

"Fine! But please hurry!"

Kagome and Sango fought the crowd to get to her locker. There she threw a few books into her locker and grabbed her chemistry book. "I'm going to have to do some cramming during lunch."

"Alright, I'll quiz you. Come on, I'm starving!"

"Ok, let's go."

Once they got their lunches from the cafeteria, Kagome and Sango sat at a table by themselves. "So why have you been avoiding Hojo?" Sango asked after eating a bit of her lunch.

"What? I haven't been avoiding Hojo."

"Oh, seems like it. Usually you talk to him everyday, but you haven't even looked at him today."

"Oh well."

"Kagome, are you ever going to go on a date with him?" Sango asked, confused.

"Are you ever going to go on a date with Miroku?" Kagome asked with a smile.

"Like hell! But Hojo is the hottest, most popular guy in school, and he's interested in you."

Kagome took another bite of her salad. "Don't get me wrong. He's nice and all, and cute, but he just isn't my type."

"Ok."

"Anyway, we need to study."

Chemistry class came all too soon. Whereas the beginning of the day went on too slowly for Kagome's liking, lunch happened in the blink of an eye, and it was time for the killer chemistry test. Sango sat beside Kagome who was now sweating profusely.

"Don't worry, Kagome. You'll do fine," Sango whispered to her with a smile.

The substitute teacher for the day slowly walked to the front of the class. "Ok class, I will be your substitute for today as your normal teacher is out sick." She straightened her rather short skirt, at which all the boys were staring, and gently sat at the desk in front of the class. "As all of you know, you have a test today. I will be passing that out in a moment. However," she put a pair of glasses on the tip of her nose and looked down at the class. "Another teacher down the hall has a family emergency and had to leave abruptly. His class will be joining ours. It isn't a very big class and he has left work for them to do, so they will be quietly studying while you take your test. Just because we have another class with us doesn't mean the normal rules don't apply." She pulled a couple of papers out of the desk and straightened them. "There will be no copying, no talking, no nonsense, and no cheating whatsoever. Any cheating will be immediately reported and a zero will be given, understood?" The class nodded in unison. "Good. Now the other class will be in here soon, so start on your tests and pay no mind to them." She then got up and walked up and down the aisles, passing out the tests.

Kagome's heart was racing a mile a minute when the test was laid in front of her. Ok, I know this first question. That's good. Ok, take it slow. Think. The classroom door opened and one of the teachers from down the hall came in.

"Excuse me, but the class is ready to come in."

"Oh, thank you." The other class began to file in. They looked like they were from the lower class for students who don't do well in school unlike Kagome who was in a higher class. She watched them walk into the class and sit where ever there was an open space. Kagome gasped at what she saw next.

A boy walked into the classroom with his fists stuffed into his jean pockets and a frown on his face. His black hair feathered over his eyes. His body seemed kind of lanky yet a little muscular, Kagome couldn't tell for his baggy pants and oversized sweatshirt. He wore a sweatshirt when it was practically summer. Weird, Kagome thought. He looked familiar as he passed by in front of her, but she couldn't place it. Then the boy lifted his head and she saw his eyes from underneath his hair. Golden amber. Like the boy that saved her. He turned and looked her in the eyes, not seeming to acknowledge her. Kagome's heart skipped a beat as she watched him sit near the front of the class at the only remaining seat.

"Hello Mr. Mesoma's class. Right now this class is taking a test, so please take out the work your teacher assigned you and don't talk."

Kagome could only watch the back of the boys head. He couldn't be the one who saved her. He couldn't be Inuyasha.

Ok, focus on the test. What is the meaning of Stoicheometry? How the hell am I suppose to know? Arg, and it's not a multiple choice question. Wow, he has really good hair. No. No. You are taking a test. Focus. Focus. Balance the following chemical equation. Ok, I think I can do this. He looks a lot better in daylight. Stop it, Kagome! You're taking a test, now focus! Alright, doing good, second page. Find the atomic mass of the following elements. Ok, I know this. Doing good, doing good. Wow, he's really cute. No, doing bad, doing really bad. Question 18. I know this one. Know this one. Know it. Man, this is getting easier. Damn, don't know that one. Or that one. I don't know this whole page! Oh man I'm going to fail this test!

About fifteen minutes later, Kagome decided she had done all she could do. Staring at the question for five minutes wouldn't make the answer magically appear. She stood from her seat and walked to the front of the room, passing Inuyasha on the way. Her heart froze when she passed, wondering if he remembered her. She placed the test on the teacher's desk and turned to go back to her own. She saw Inuyasha looking at her. He didn't smile or anything, no emotion showed on his face. Feeling awkward, Kagome hurried to her desk and started reading her book, still stealing glances at Inuyasha.

The end of class finally came and she heard Sango sigh miserably.

"Dear lord that was a beating!" Kagome didn't seem to pay attention to her friend. She was staring at someone. "Kagome-chan, what's wrong?"

Kagome's face turned red then she looked at Sango. "Oh nothing, just that test was really hard. I think I failed," she said as she slowly put her books in her bag. A tall boy pushed between the two friends and muttered, "Feh." as he passed.

Sango folded her arms and pouted, "Who does he think he is?"

"Uh, I don't know," Kagome stuttered when she saw Inuyasha leave the room. He was being rude again.

"Some guys are just jerks. Come on Kagome, let's go to our lockers and go home."

Kagome had talked to her mother about Miroku's offer and, surprisingly, she approved, although her grandfather thought otherwise.

"Of course it's ok. I've known Miroku since he was a toddler. I trust him completely."

"Well I don't," her grandfather protested. "No boy should be allowed on that trip with them."

"Grandpa, don't. Mom, is it alright if I call Sango?"

"Sure."

Kagome dialed the number to Sango's house and her brother's voice answered her. "Hey Kohaku, may I speak to Sango?"

"Oh hi Kagome. Yea, hold on a sec." She heard the boy pounding on a door. "Sango, Kagome-chan is on the phone!"

"Hello?"

"Hey, Sango, did you talk to your father about Miroku's offer?"

"Yea, it took some convincing but he agreed only because Miroku won him that championship."

"Well, that's good."

"I talked to Miroku just a few minutes ago to tell him, but we have another problem."

Kagome sighed, "What now?"

"Well, Miroku's parents have left on vacation. They'll be gone all summer and even into the school year. Anyway, a friend of the family's son needs a place to stay, and before Miroku knew, his parents had said he could stay with Miroku for the summer. It's just, this kid seems to find trouble and Miroku has to stay with him, meaning he can't just leave the guy at his house while he travels with us. So, he asked if the guy could come with us."

"And what did you say?"

"Well, I told him I'd have to talk to you."

"Does he even know the guy very well?"

"They've been friends for a couple of years. Miroku said he's a loner. So he won't bother us. We wouldn't even notice him around."

"What about your father?"

"He already approved. If you want I could have my dad talk to your mom and explain everything, that is, if you want him to come?"

Kagome sighed again. This trip was becoming way more complicated. "Sure, why not. What harm could it do?"

"Oh, thank you Kagome. Get your mom so my dad can talk to her."

"Ok, I'll talk to you later Sango." Kagome handed the phone to her mother then went up to her room. Her head hurt from the test and knowing a stranger and a lecher were going on their perfect summer trip wasn't helping. She lay on her bed and stared at the ceiling.

I guess it won't be so bad. I mean, Sango said the guy was a loner. I bet he won't cause any trouble. And I'm sure if Miroku can get along with him, I can. But, I was looking forward to going with just Sango. Miroku won't be bad, but a stranger? Maybe I know him. For all I know he could be really nice…and maybe really cute. It won't be bad. Everything will be fine. Finally, she fell asleep thinking about this new guy.