Chapter 9:

Inaho Elementary

Anya walked with Naraku through the doors of the school and gasped at how many people were actually there. She'd never seen so many children all in one place. She'd told her grandmother she'd be fine, but now that she was actually there, Anya to admit, she was terrified. She had no idea what she was supposed to do or when or where. Luckily there was Naraku. He explained about how things worked at the school. About how there were different classes for the same grades and that she had to change her outdoor shoes for the ones provided for the student and teachers. Anya hung on every word, mainly because she really needed to hear and learn all that she could so that she could get through the first day at least. Naraku as it turned out was in her class, which she was happy about. She wasn't happy to see Karin in the same class as well. She remembered what Narkau had told her on the bus and though she'd seemed pretty brave then, she was a bundle of nerves now. Karin glanced at her and grinned smugly. Anya wanted to bolt, but just allowed Narkau to lead her into the classroom.

"You have to stay up here, until the teacher gets here, he or she has to announce you." Naraku said letting go of Anya's hand. She hadn't wanted thay, but if that's what she had to do, then she would wait for the teacher to get there. She noticed an empty seat in front of Naraku and silently prayed to the gods that she'd be allowed to sit there. She had a good look around the classroom. She saw the chalkboard behind her and the many desks in front. She noticed many eyes upon her as a woman approached her.

"Hello, you must be Anya Higurashi? Welcome to my classroom dear. I'm Ms. Asayo." She said sweetly and Anya smiled. This woman didn't give off any bad vibes, so Anya was able to calm her nerves a bit. The woman, Ms. Asayo turned to the rest of her students. "Good morning everyone, I hope everyone enjoyed their holiday. We have a new student joining us." Ms. Asayo lightly touched her shoulders. Anya almost paniced, until she saw Narkau nod, and she calmed. "This is Anya Higurashi. She's new to Inaho Elementary, so please be kind. Anya you may sit in the empty seat there, in front of Naraku." Anya nodded and went to take her seat.

The gods had answered her prayers. She'd be sitting in front of Naraku, where she'd hoped she'd be. She walked passed Karin who sneered. "Hello, Anya...nice dye job on the hair." she said snickering as Anya just ignored and breezed by, taking her seat. This earned a heated glare from Karin. Anya just simply ignored her.

Class began and Math was first, after 15 minutes of homeroom discussion. Luckily Anya had been taught math by her mother, who knew a lot. So when the worksheets were passed out, Anya was able to pretty much rip through the math problems and as she noticed a few others, she lifted her hand and the teacher came to collect her sheets. This earned her more, she just shrugged it off and just completed each problem. Nearing the 20th sheet, the teacher came to her desk and knelt.

"My, Anya, you seem to be really good at math...you've gotten every problem right so far." Ms. Asayo said kindly. Anya nodded as she remembered her mother's teachings. Her father would be not too far off and seemed to be listening as well. They'd normally conduct lessons in the school, but one in a while they would go outside and enjoy the bright sun and weather, while the lessons went on.

"My mother taught me math and other things, has since I was 5." Anya said proudly as she handed another worksheet to the kind teacher, who simply nodded and smiled.

"Well, you keep at it. History is next, after break." She said with a wink and Anya nodded. She figured she'd fly through history, considering where she was from. Though Shippo had mentioned that her mother had thought that when taking a History test on the Fuedal era, but had completely failed that. Anya knew that even though she knew what she did, she'd need to keep up on her studies, like her mother suggested her and the other children to do.

"Alright, class. Math away and take out your History books." Ms. Asayo said as History began. Anya pulled out a book labled History on the cover and turned to the page the class was asked to.

"Naraku, were you able to find your book?" Anya glanced slightly and saw Naraku sighed and shake his head, then noticed Karin smirk and snicker lightly. Anya figured she'd taken it and hidden it somewhere. "Ha...very well then..."

"He can share with me." Anya said out loud, a bit too loudly though. "That is if that's alright..." She didn't know if that was proper here, mother allowed her and the other children to share her old books, but maybe that wasn't allowed here. Ms. Asayo thought and looked at Naraku.

"Would you be alright with that dear?" She asked and Naraku nodded. "Alright then, thank you Anya. That's very kind of you." Anya nodded as she moved over and Naraku brought his chair around to sit next to her.

"Thanks." He said softly. Anya smiled

"What are friends for?" The look on his face made her sad. It was the look of surprise. Surprise that she'd called him a friend, and that she was a friend. She determined that he didn't have any friends. "We are friends after all, right?" She asked and he nodded with a smile.

"Yeah we are." He said as they began their break.

At 12:30pm, the student s began eating lunch, which today was stew, and boiled vegetables, which came with a bottle of milk. Anya liked this lunch, it reminded her of her mother's cooking, reminded her of her home beyond the well. She hoped she'd be able to go back one day, but she decided until then she'd hang out with her new friend Naraku.