Okay here we go again. I'm sorry that I haven't updated soon like I said I would. My dog that I've had since I was about six died and then I had to go back to school, so my life has been hectic to say the least. I'd like to think it has kept you all on the edge of your seats in anticipation. I'd like to thank every one of my reviewers so much. The fact that I have people wanting to read my story is really very fantastic. Enough of my ramblings, however. On with the show.

Chapter VI: Back in the Swing of Things

Kagome rubbed her eyes, trying to drive the sleepiness from her eyes and as a result her body. She stifled yawn with the back of her hand as she entered the revolving doors into Whytecrosse Advertising her advertising company. She quickly glanced up at the company logo; a red infinity sign over a silver background. As she entered the lobby her briefcase swung freely at her side. As she passed the security desk she flashed her id badge at the guard who nodded approvingly and she strode forward to the elevators. Soft jazz music filled her ears a she was pushed to the back as more people crowded inside. Feeling quite sardine like with about fifteen other people she asked for someone to push the 42 button. Blocked by people holding similar briefcases, cups of coffee and the like Kagome hoped that her request had been met. As the first stop arrived an overly cheerful voice came over the sound system of the elevator. "Just a friendly reminder to do your best from the whole Whytecrosse Advertising team. Go for it! We couldn't do it without you". Only installed last week from the brilliant people in Human Resources Kagome already loathed this happy message. Especially at 7:30 AM, this was not a time to be cheerful. She needed liquid stimulation in the form of a warm highly caffeinated substance. Several of her fellow employees seemed to agree with this unspoken sentiment glaring up angrily at the PA system.

After several more stops and several repeats of the same overly cheerful message later, Kagome could move enough to see that someone had indeed pressed the button for her floor. She glanced upward at the electronic floor counter situated above the doors. It's display screen bore the numbers 35. She glanced around finally to see if she knew anyone in the elevator from her floor. There were some women in pants suits speaking in quiet hushed tones about what sounded like the Jones account, a few men in suits and dress shirts speaking of similar thinks only they were speaking about the Stevenson account. The only other person who was in the elevator was a small older man who was reading a copy of the New York Times. Kagome sighed, she had only been here a month or two and still didn't know very many people in the office. Granted it was a large building with over a hundred floors, but she still wished she had someone to at least complain about the PA system to. As the doors opened on the 42nd floor she didn't give the PA system the time to get through it's friendly announcement as she practically bolted out and around the corner. She thought to herself that a sign in the elevators that read "Abandon All Hope, Ye Who Enter Here" would be a better choice. It might not improve morale, but it certainly would be more honest and less annoying.

Slowing her pace she stifled another yawn. She hadn't slept particularly well in the past few days. She had kept waking up in the middle of the night, thinking she heard strange sounds. It almost sounded as if it were music, but every time she would come downstairs there was no one there and she would then check on Inuyasha who would invariably be snoring away. She supposed that she was just nervous about this whole promotion business. She needed to concentrate on this promotion and if this newfound scheme of hers didn't work. She stopped in her tracks in front of her office door, eyes roaming over the nametag to the side of the door.

Kagome Higurashi

Assistant Director of Sale Management

C-42-121

She shook her head vigorously as if trying to rid herself of the thoughts creeping into her mind. Kagome didn't like the sound of that word; scheme. Scheme implied dishonesty and this was…well it was dishonest, but it was a means to an end. It wasn't a scheme, it was an initiative, a carefully enacted plan, that should she reveal to her co-workers would be highly apt to pat her on the back for her ingeniousness. With this in mind she resumed her careful and professional stride across the carpeted floor. She was the best person for this job and desperately did not want to leave New York City. She knew deep down in her bones that she was. She had not only the desire and talent for the promotion, but the need as well. If not she'd be forced to move again. The prospect made her cringe outwardly as she rested a hand on the nametag, hand caressing the Gothic style text. A voice shook her from her thoughts.

"Miss Higurashi? Sorry to bother you, but…oh, did you forget the keys to your office?" a voice asked, politely.

Kagome turned to see Sango Kuonji, her personal secretary giving her a kind, but curious gaze. Sango was about Kagome's age, graduated from Notre Dame and currently attending Grad school in the city, all the while working her way through with a part time job as Kagome's secretary.

Kagome smiled and nervously ran a hand through his hair. "Oh, no Sango, it's just…Monday you know. That, and I'm pretty sure that if I hear that 'friendly office message' one more time, I'm going to have to kill someone." Kagome laughed, but was met still with the slightly stoic expression of the slightly younger girl. She didn't have the greatest sense of humor per say, but once you broke down her wall she was really a great friend to have, and one of the few Kagome had thus far in her career at Whytecrosse Advertising.

It had been an interesting meeting and matchup between the two on the first day of Kagome's employ there. She had been shown to her desk by her supervisor and introduced to Sango as her secretary. She had smiled politely and nodded as Kagome was ushered inside. Shortly after her supervisor left her to get settled, Sango had entered into the office and stating. "My name is Sango Kuonji, I'm your secretary, I take calls, get coffee, copy, type, fax, make spreadsheets, organize you appointments, other than that, it's up to you. Call me Sango not Ms. Kuonji, it's too formal and makes me sound old. And, do you want to go to lunch with me? There's this guy who keeps...never mind you'll find out, but please?" she had asked eyes wide. It was there that Kagome had made her first friend in New York.

Sango shrugged her shoulders and gave a half smile. "I already saw some high powered exec flip out on it. Ripped the speaker down from the wall while I was in the elevator this morning. Security took him away." Sango said turning briefly to her desk and handing Kagome a cardboard cup. "Here" she said, simply. "Cinnamon spice, half and half, one sugar."

Kagome nearly melted on the spot, gratefully accepting the caffeine in a cup from her secretary. "Thank you, you save my life on a daily basis" she sighed leaning her head briefly on the younger girl's shoulder. "Are you serious?" she added taking her head away and looking wide eyed at her friend.

"Yes, I'm serious" Sango said almost hurt at the statement. "I don't think they're going to last much longer. Someone else is bound to crack. And it might be you by the sound of things, Kagome".

"You might be right" Kagome admitted only half joking. "Good weekend?" she asked making small talk.

"Busy, working on my senior thesis. I have no life and it's not even due until next semester. I'm going to die" Sango said morosely.

"You'll survive, I promise" Kagome said comfortingly laughing gently and patting her friend.

"Will you go shopping with me on Saturday, please? I need to relax." Sango whined.

Kagome realized she had a marvelous opportunity to begin spreading a little office gossip and grinned secretly to herself. "Fighting off saturday shoppers in New York is not my idea of relaxing, but I'll have to see. I think I'm going out this weekend" she said trying to sound non-chalant, which she knew would peak Sango's interest.

Sango swallowed, hook, line, and sinker. "What...did you meet someone?" Sango asked in an excited whisper her eyes open wide with excitement. She grabbed Kagome pushing her into her office and sitting her down. "Spill" she demanded. "What's his name?" she asked once she had Kagome settled in a chair and she herself took a seat.

"Inuyasha" Kagome said unable to resist a smile. This was going well.

"Cute?" Sango asked leading forward.

"Very" Kagome said nodding her head in agreement. Inuyasha was cute, she could admit that. Well, she couldn't deny it at all. He cleaned up nice at the very least.

Sango leaned forward more and let out a content sigh. Kagome's smile grew. It would be all over the office by lunch.

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Inuyasha made his way into the lecture hall, glancing around at the raked arena style seating and of flip down seats with the folding desktops. It was older room in some need of renovation. A dry erase whiteboard lined the front of the classroom and an overhead projector stood near the front of the room. A large mahogany desk sat in the corner, illuminated in fluorescent lighting. Scanning the seats, Inuyasha chose a seat about half way up through the rows and to the far right. After many years of schooling he had learned that this was the best possible spot to sit in. He didn't look like a suck up by sitting front row center, nor did he appear to be a slacker sitting as far away as possible. He looked average, if noticed at all, but since most professors faced you and "read" the class like a book left to right, he would be the last person to be seen.

He watched as more people began to arrive filling up various spots in the lecture hall. Some sat in front, to the back, to the far side, everywhere with only a select few who had learned this trick as well coming to sit near him. He clicked his tongue noting how much younger the other students seemed in comparison to himself. It was to be expected, but now he felt like "that old guy" who was in your classes every once in awhile. Granted he wasn't that old, only a few years older than most here, but he still felt slightly out of place. He wished that there were someone that he knew here, or could relate to on some level other than Myoga who was teaching the class.

Inuyasha fidgeted in his new clothes, still not used to them after spending the past few years wearing the same ragged things. Kagome had thrown away most of those clothes, but he refused to part with the tattered scarf, instead he had it washed and began repairing it to the best of his ability which was not great, but now it simply looked as if it were a worn and used scarf. It didn't truly match the khaki pants and black v neck sweater he was wearing now, but he certainly seemed to be pulling off the illusion of pretentious med student, or at the very least high school drama coach. He pulled out a used textbook a pen and a notebook and spread them on the small expanse of desk he had been allotted. He glanced at the wall clock, noting the time before glancing down at the book. He had to take a deep breath and reflect for a moment. He could hardly believe he was back. A week ago today he had been digging through alley ash cans and now he was someone again. And he owed it all to perhaps the strangest and most selfless girl he had ever met. Well, not completely selfless, perhaps, he was being used to achieve her desired goal, but at the same time she had raised him from the very depths of poverty. He felt that he could never admit it to Kagome herself, but it made him uncomfortable. She had basically invested in him a sum which he could never repay leaving himself almost completely indebted to her even if she said this was not the case. Nonetheless, he was now dependant on someone else, a position he did not like to be in. He had always been independent, but now he felt slightly…trapped…or caged, or on a very short leash.

"Settle down all, settle down" a voice called Inuyasha out from his thoughts to the front of the room. Myoga was standing in the front of the room easily seen in the arena style seating. "Now if everyone is settled we can get started. As you know I am Dr. Myoshi and you will address me as such. Welcome to our winter semester Concentrated Medical Studies or as we affectionately call it 'The Meat-Grinder' " Myoga said earning a few chuckles from the students.

"Don't laugh, children," Myoga continued removing the glasses he wore to polish the lenses, "We call it that because this course will be much more difficult than anything you've experienced thus far and if you let it this course will chew you up and spit you out just like…a meat grinder" he said inflecting his voice at the end as if he were speaking to small kids.

"This is my TA, Dr. Kouga Yubari" he said nonchalantly gesturing with his hand to introduce a black haired young man about Inuyasha's age that made his way across the front of the room holding a brown leather case which he swung up onto the desk, sharp eyes panning the class. Inuyasha recognized him immediately. He had been in school with Inuyasha until the time he had dropped out, and the two had been, shall we say competitive with one another in just about every aspect of their lives, from grades to girls, and stupid things like who could hold their breath longer, the two had been rivals. Seeing him now, Myoga's Teaching Assistant made Inuyasha retract his previous thoughts about wishing he knew someone in the class. Kouga had been delighted when Inuyasha had been forced to drop out although would never say it and seeing him here Inuyasha had no doubt that once Kouga learned he was in this class he would be making his life a living hell. No sooner had he finished this thought then Kouga finished panning the room, his eyes meeting Inuyasha's, the recognition instantaneous, and a smug smile formed on Kouga's lips.

"Good Morning, everyone. I am Dr. Kouga Yubari and I will be Dr. Mioshi's Teaching Assistant for this class. I am responsible for preparing you for the comprehensive evaluation at the end of this winter semester. The exam will comprise of a practical portion as well as a written exam, which will cover all of the in class lectures as well as the assigned readings. The written exam will be entirely essay form. I suggest you all start studying now." Kouga said a condescending and superior grin tugging at the corners of his mouth as he attempted to remain professional and serious in front of the old professor who was watching him address the class.

"Okay," Myoga interrupted Kouga, indicating a stack of papers on his desk with a hand gesture. Kouga obediently walked and began handing them out to the rows of students. "Here is the syllabus which you can read on your own time. I trust that you don't need my help with that. And now that the formalities are disposed with, let our daily torture commence" Myoga said turning and began scribbling furiously on the whiteboard behind him. Inuyasha glanced down to notice Kouga looking up at him again and the two locked eyes for a moment the fires of their unspoken rivalry instantly brought roaring back to life, until Inuyasha was forced to break their staring contest so that he could start copying down the notes on the whiteboard and so as to keep up with the rigorous pace that Myoga was sure to set. So it had begun.

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Kagome sat in her office, reading over a proposal, absently twirling a pen in her hair as she studied the words in front of her. Every once in awhile she would take a sip of coffee, but other than that it was the same movement, unbroken over and over. Her eyes darted back and forth as she read the documents in front of her. She was in concentrating extremely hard on this proposal for no particular reason, but she often got into "the zone" When her phone rang she practically yelped in surprise, but managed to suppress it to a mild gasp of surprise. Sango poked her head in the doorway leaning from her chair hearing Kagome make the gasp, a curious expression on her face. Kagome gave her an embarrassed smile that read, 'I know, I know, I'm fine, I'm fine'. Sango gave her a quizative look and pointed to the phone still currently ringing on Kagome's desk. Kagome nodded again picking up the phone and waving Sango away. Today was turning out to be one of those days, apparently.

"Whytecrosse Advertising, Kagome Higurashi speaking," said into the phone seeing Sango had not gone away.

'Who is it?' Sango mouthed suggestively, wiggling her eyebrows and winking at Kagome.

Kagome now waved Sango off more vigorously than before. Covering the mouth piece with her left hand and whispering loudly, "GO!" Sango took the hint and her head disappeared to within the recesses of her cubicle. Starting to sow the seeds of her and Inuyasha's relationship was possibly going to be more trouble than it was worth if it meant Sango making "sexy eyebrows" at her every time her phone rang.

"Kagome, dear, it's your mother" a cheerful voice filtered over the phone line.

"Hello, Mom" Kagome answered loudly enough so that Sango to hear.

"You sound more awake than the last time we talked" Kagome's mother commented.

"I've had coffee" Kagome said unable to stop a grin from spreading to her face and leaking into her tone of voice making her sound peppy.

"I can tell. I'm just calling because our conversation ended rather abruptly the last time we spoke.

"Yeah, I'm sorry about that Mom, I had some…errands to run" Kagome said telling an extended truth. She was not quite sure how she should break her "relationship" news to her mother. No matter how she broke it to her mother she was going to flip out. A frown formed on her face as she realized also that she couldn't tell her mother what was going on. She had to convince her mother of this as well. The less people that knew the truth, the better.

"That's fine dear, that's fine. So how was your weekend? Did anything exciting happen?" Kagome's mother asked the inevitable question.

"Well, I did some shopping, reading, and well" Kagome took a deep breath and plunged right in, "…I met someone" she put forth.

"Really?" her mother asked almost dreamily as if afraid to believe it for fear she might jinx it. Over the phone Kagome could hear her mother restraining herself forcibly.

"Yes, I did." Kagome stated simply trying not to reveal too much just yet. Slip it in there and get out.

"What's his name?" came the next question.

"Inuyasha Takashiro" she answered.

"That's a nice name" Kagome's mother responded. "Is he a nice young man?" she added still maintaining her mask of calm.

"Yes, in a very different sort of way." Kagome answered, both of them still treading cautiously around one another.

A deep inhalation of breath came from the other end of the phone. "What does he do?" her mother queried.

Kagome smiled nervously although her mom could not see it. 'Time to throw in the trump card' she thought to herself. "He's a med student at NYU" she ventured forth.

Immediately a shriek sounded from the end of the other line followed by thud and some frantic scuffling noises.

"Mom? MOM? Mom, are you alright?!?" Kagome practically shouted into the phone.

"What…oh, I'm sorry dear; I was so excited that I dropped the phone" Mrs. Higurashi answered back, excitement pouring out of her like she was a dam that had just burst. "You took my advice" she said sounding both excited and choked up at the same time.

"Yes, I suppose I did" Kagome answered truthfully, as it was her mother who had first sparked the inspiration that had led to her scheme or plan depending on which bit of conscious you listened to in Kagome's mind. "Although, not on purpose" Kagome added as an afterthought. "Our meeting was quite by accident really" Kagome mused.

"Oh, honey I'm so happy for you" Mrs. Higurashi gushed. "Let me go tell your father" she added.

Kagome blanched, "Oh, no don't tell Daddy just yet Mom. It's still very new and very…different, and nothing might come of it. I'd rather not tell him just yet".

"Why dear?" Mrs. Higurashi asked and after a brief pause queried further. "Have you two been intimate already?"

Kagome practically fell out of her chair at the question. "MOTHER!" she scolded. "No we have not, I just met him, what do you expect of me? I told you yesterday I don't do those things."

"Well, you said this was different so I assumed that meant something. Because it's okay you know. You're on your own and it's your decision what you want to do. If you're having sexual relations with him that's fine. I just want you to be able to tell me without feeling bashful".

"Mother, exactly WHAT is your obsession with my sex life about?" Kagome asked a little too loudly over the phone causing Sango's head to once again re-appear in the doorway.

"It's not an obsession, dear. I just think it's something we should be able to talk about, that's all" Mrs. Higurashi answered her daughter.

Kagome waved Sango away vigorously which Sango did reluctantly and Kagome sighed in frustration. This was not going how she had envisioned it. "Okay, first of all, no it's not and secondly even if I would there's nothing to talk about anyway, all right?" Kagome answered back.

"All right" Mrs. Higurashi responded.

"All right" Kagome countered.

"All right, then" Mrs. Higurashi finished. A short silence ensued before Mrs. Higurashi broke the silence. "When you do become intimate you let me know though, alright?"

"MOTHER!" Kagome yelled back her frustration growing.

"I'm just joking dear, calm down. Oh, the other line is ringing, I'll talk to you soon sweetie. I love you". Mrs. Higurashi sang into the phone.

"I love you too, mom." Kagome mumbled into the phone and hung up once she heard the other line go dead. She proceeded to bury her head in her arms. She loved her mother dearly, but there were some things one just didn't discuss with their parents. On the positive side though, her mother believed what little she had told her about him.

Hearing some slight commotion going on outside of her door she rose from her desk to see what the noise was about. She needed a diversion from her work, some brief respite from her own life for just a moment. Stalking outside her office door her eyes landed on her secretary who was typing away at her computer her eyes glued to the screen, blatantly ignoring the young man sitting on her desk.

He was young, about Kagome's age, attractive, with an athletic build, short black hair, and mischievous dancing eyes. At the present moment he was speaking emphatically, but with just a hint of jocularity in his tone to Sango. "Come on, Sango. Just have lunch with me, is that so bad?" he asked her.

"That would involve people seeing us in public, so no" Sango replied a sardonic smile lining her face.

"You don't seem to mind so much right now" the young man added leaning in and spinning her computer monitor around to see what she was working on.

Sango threw him an annoyed look and spun her monitor back around so she could continue her work. "No, that would be called having a lot of tolerance for you, that's all."

"See, you have tolerance. You won't admit it, but I grow on you like a fungus until you can't get enough of me" he replied.

"Don't you have work to do, Miroku?" Kagome finally interrupted the back and forth between the two of them, causing Miroku to look up and smile at her charmingly.

"Just coming to see you, boss lady, I have the specs for the Toys for Tots campaign next month. Sorry, you know I can't help getting distracted sometimes" he added the same charming tone in his bright voice. True, Miroku was charming, but he was also what one would refer to as a Human Resources nightmare. He had been in trouble with them more than anyone else in the entire company, which was quite an astounding record when one thought about it, but nothing to be proud of. While HR spent most of its time trying to get Miroku to understand something…anything about personal space, sexual harassment, office etiquette and the like, Miroku danced around the issue like a toreador evading a charging bull. It usually began with a female co-worker and ended with him being slapped. All of his issues were resolved with him at worst having to take sensitivity training, yet again, or was avoided all together dismissed after the young lady in question undoubtedly received a very touching and heartfelt apology from Miroku. And most did accept because in truth Miroku did sincerely feel bad that his flirting could be taken that way. Some were just naïve that way. However, when Kagome had started here, Miroku was among the first to be assigned under her, both a practical joke and a test of her management skills from her higher ups. His official title was Jr. Executive Claims Consultant to the Chief…something or other. It was a long and convoluted title. The short of it, however, was that he worked for her.

Kagome grasped the files from him in slight disbelief and briefly glanced down at them her mind already churning as she began cranking out ideas and storing them away mentally. "How did you get these already? I thought that Claims Processing wouldn't be done with this for another week." She said looking up from the folder in her hands.

Miroku smiled and put his hands behind his head. "Go ahead; tell me I'm wonderful, that you couldn't do it without me. Go ahead, tell me." Miroku gloated. That was the other reason that HR did not just fire Miroku outright. He was very VERY good at his job and invaluable to the company. In this Kagome envied him.

Kagome smiled a genuine smile, "You are wonderful" she admitted turning to retreat into her office. "Thank you, Miroku".

"Don't I get anything for doing such a good job?" Miroku asked an enormous self satisfied smile plastered on his face.

Kagome, still reading the report waved her hand in the air in a clockwise motion. "Sango, go to lunch with Miroku" Kagome said.

"WHAT?!?" Sango yelled indignantly shooting up out of her chair so quickly that the bobble-head Mickey Mouse fell off of her desk.

"Thanks, boss lady" Miroku chimed in kneeling down nonchalantly to pick up the bobble-head doll and happily return it to sit on Sango's desk again which went unnoticed by the young secretary.

"Can you even do that?" Sango asked exasperatedly.

"Yes, I can." Kagome said adopting her serious 'You will do as I say because I control your salary' voice and mannerisms. "Besides, I said to go to lunch with him; I said nothing about sitting at the same table or even in the same cafeteria. You just need to go at the same time" Kagome said before retreating into her office.

Miroku sighed, slightly disappointed, but he'd take it for now. Glancing down at his watch he looked up and smiled. "Well, its 11:47 now, but I'll be back at 12:15, okay?"

"Yeah, whatever" Sango said sitting back down heavily into her chair and taking her irritation and frustration out on the keyboard.

"Come on, Sango it's not so bad. I waaaaaaaannnnttt you to want me. I neeeeeeeeeeed you to need me" Miroku sang quietly as he walked back over to his workstation.

"What is that song from, like 1980?" Sango called after his retreating form.

"1977 actually" Miroku called back before disappearing around a corner. Sango just huffed and bent down to pick up her bobble-head doll Mickey Mouse that had fallen off her desk earlier, only to realize it was staring eye level at her back on her desk. She smiled in spite of her herself.

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Kagome sat down back in her office going over the paperwork that Miroku had brought her. It was brilliant that she had this now. She was very fortunate to have him working for her. Now she had a chance to get a tad bit of a head start on this. She grabbed a notepad and began to jot down some ideas as she set up a plan on what she needed to be done and some research ideas. She smiled as she worked, realizing that the 'Toys for Tots' toy drive was among one of the largest social events that her company organized. It was actually something that had been used as a business model while she was in school, and now she actually had the opportunity to work on it herself. She couldn't resist a slight happy giggle as she continued to work. Furthermore, she figured it would be an excellent time to introduce Inuyasha out into public. At the very least it would be a good test to see if this whole thing was going to work. And god did she hope it would work. She just needed to make sure that he was ready, prepared, beyond prepared. She glanced up at her clock, realizing she needed to go to lunch and then to a business meeting at two o'clock. Tearing herself away from the report she rose out of her chair and grabbed her lunch and keys, leaving her office to go down to meet a few co-workers for a quick lunch.

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Inuyasha rubbed his wrist as he was sure he had just developed carpal tunnel syndrome, which ironically he had just learned about. They had covered developmental afflictions today and it was killing him. Myoga had not been kidding when he said this course as going to be difficult. Granted, he had not taken any classes in quite awhile, but this was a little bit ridiculous. Diligently, he had taken the notes though, paying attention and answering questions whenever he had been called upon, which seemed rather often, even his patented secret sitting spot offered him no protection, Myoga putting him to the test and seemingly holding him to a higher standard than the other students taking the course because for him the stakes were that much higher. He picked up his notebook, realizing that he needed a new one already. It was not a big deal, simply daunting with the amount of information he was going to have to know. However, this was exactly what he wanted. In any case, he had purchased several just for this reason. He glanced at his watch checking the time. He had another class at 2:00, but was free until then and with the rumbling in his stomach decided that lunch was definitely a good idea about that time. He began to gather his things, throwing them into his backpack, but a voice made him turn around.

"Inuyasha Takashiro, I thought I saw you up there."

Turning around he saw Kouga looking up at him, hands in his pockets, a sycophantic smile on his face.

"Kouga," Inuyasha replied turning back to putting his things away and throwing it over his shoulder.

"That's Dr. Kouga Yubari, mind you" Kouga replied the smile still lining his features.

Inuyasha turned and narrowed his eyes, not liking the air of condescension in his tone. "Yes, but between old friends such as us, I'm sure we can drop the formalities." Inuyasha added inclining his head to the side and throwing his scarf over his shoulder. If this was going to be a battle of pretentiousness Inuyasha was well prepared.

"Agreed." Kouga said copying Inuyasha's movement and throwing his own scarf over his shoulder. "Well, well, well, it has been a LONG time, wouldn't you say dog breath?" Kouga mocked.

"Ah, it all comes flooding back now, huh, wolf face?" Inuyasha said trying to remain civil as their names for one another came back to the surface. "So, you actually graduated? The world is full of surprises" Inuyasha responded.

Kouga's smile wavered for a brief second before he spoke again. "Yes, I did graduate. I was hoping to see you at the reunion until I realized that those are more for graduates not dropouts. I see you're taking another crack at it. If at first you don't succeed and all of that" Kouga retorted.

"Something like that. So, you're a teaching assistant now. I'm impressed; your mother must be very proud" Inuyasha answered trotting down the steps towards the door, already bored with Kouga's pathetic attempt at getting a rise out of him.

"Actually, I just became a Resident at Columbia Medical. I'm the youngest in their history. That says what a little talent and some good breeding will do for you" Kouga taunted. Inuyasha secretly fumed at the crack about his blood and breeding and whirled around to face Kouga.

Before Inuyasha could respond again Myoga interrupted them. "Hold this, Kouga" Myoga said shoving his leather bag into Kouga's hands. "Master Takashiro it's good to see you here. However, I expect more from you if you anticipate passing this class to join us during the regular term. That's all." He said as he noticed Inuyasha opening his mouth to interject and without another words walked away, Kouga following in his stead, who glanced back at Inuyasha still standing on the steps and gave him a condescending smile and a shake of the head before turning to catch up with the elderly professor.

Inuyasha grabbed his bag and angrily swung it over his shoulder again and stomped out of the classroom hurriedly. He didn't know what Myoga expected from him. He had spent the entire weekend reading the text cover to cover, eight times and was feeling well prepared. He had answered the questions asked of him to the best of his ability. For being gone so long he thought that he had performed more than adequately. Things like that always had a way of destroying your day. What a way for his first class back in med school to end. 'Welcome to the meat grinder' he thought to himself miserably as he exited the lecture hall to get himself some food and prepare himself for the next onslaught.

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So, that's it for this chapter. Once again my apologies for the length of time it took me to put this up, but life has been hectic. Thank you for the reviews though, they have really kept me going as far as my determination to write this story and deliver something worth reading to you as well. I know this chapter was not particularly exciting, but I swear it gets better. Or at least in my head it does. I'm just adding to the drama. And for any of you wondering there is not really going to be much focus on Sango and Miroku in the story. I really want to focus on Inuyasha and Kagome for this. Not to say they won't be involved, just not the focus. I kind of want to try to be a little more unconventional with this story as I find that a lot of stories slip into a kind of a predictable genre and I am attempting to break away from it…slightly. The next chapter will be up soon where you meet the semi-villain of the story. And here is a hint, it's not Naraku. In fact, I'm fairly sure that he will not be making an appearance in this story at all. You never know though.

Yet some more …Words of Wisdom from yours truly:

" It's not good enough to succeed. Others must fail."

Gore Vidal

I realize that I probably should start making my chapters longer as I think I'm running out of words of wisdom for all of you. Later all.

StarvingArtistinNY