Disclaimer : I don't own any of the Inuyasha characters, songs or companies I may mention in this story.

Chapter 13

Hojo watched as Souta and Inuyasha fooled around in line, wondering why Souta was never like that around him. The most "affection" Souta showed him was soccer balls to the head and a false apology.

*Flashback*

Hojo was late for dinner at the Higurashi residence and he was afraid that Kagome and her father would both be furious. As Hojo ran up the stairs leading to the house, he didn't see that a flying object was heading his way.

*BAM!*

Hojo fell backwards and down a few steps. When he finally stopped rolling down the steps, he looked up to see Souta jogging down the stairs to retrieve his soccer ball.

"Sorry about that Hojo but you should have been paying attention. I yelled "watch out!" but I guess you were too busy to hear me." Souta said in mock innocence, hoping that Hojo got the hint that he didn't like him in the slightest.

Hojo got up and rubbed the sore spot on his head. "It's alright Souta, I was just in deep concentration. Aren't you suppose to be inside helping with the dinner?" Hojo said almost in a stern tone.

'What are you my father?' Souta thought angrily to himself. "I'm not staying, I have a soccer game in 20 minutes. Kagome's driving me there and staying to watch me. Have fun with the dinner with my parents." Souta said side stepping around him and heading to their mom's car.

All of a sudden Kagome came rushing out with a coat and the car keys in hand. "Souta let's go or else your going to be late."

"Kagom-" Hojo tried as Kagome ran past him towards the car.

"Sorry Hojo, but I have to get Souta to this game on time. I'll talk to you tomorrow, my parents still want to have dinner with you." Kagome yelled driving out of the drive way and down the street, actually glad that she had to miss the dinner.

*End Of Flashback *

Hojo looked back at Inuyasha, who had Souta in a semi headlock, and realized that everything in their lives seemed better without him in it. He couldn't help but be jealous of Inuyasha because all of that new 'happiness' was because of him. Hojo felt a new determination towards the current situation. ' When Kagome and I get back together, things will be like this, if not better.' Hojo thought to himself.

After going on drop zone for the second time, Kohaku and Souta said goodbye to their sisters and ran off to find Hekori, Ayumi's little sister.

"So what do you guys want to do now? It's only 8:20 and the night is still young." Miroku said grinning like an idiot and everyone looking at him wondering what he was on. "Well?"

"I'm actually kind of hungry." Ayumi said rubbing her stomach softly.

" I want to go on some more rides." Sango said.

"We should go in the tunnel of love don't you think?" Miroku said smirking until Sango knocked him over the head. Hard enough to give him a slight headache but soft enough that she didn't knock him unconscious.

"I agree with Ayumi, I think we should grab some food." Hojo said directing his suggestion towards Kagome.

"For once I agree with Hojo but I'm thinking something small like cotton candy." Inuyasha said to Kagome

"I was thinking more rides." Miroku said putting in more suggestions.

Seeing that the group couldn't agree on one thing Kagome thought of an idea. "How about we all do what we want for an hour and meet back at the drop zone ride at 9:10? Seeing as all of us have different things that we want to do, we can go in pairs."

"I'm with Sango." Miroku declared looping his arm with hers. Sango looked at him, smiled and nodded.

"I'm with Kagome." Inuyasha stated putting his arm around her shoulder.

"I guess that leaves you and me, Hojo." Ayumi said smiling, seeing Kagome's intention. Ayumi has liked Hojo since the seventh grade and has been after him ever since. When Kagome dated Hojo, Ayumi thought that maybe that it was time to move on but after finding out that Kagome couldn't stand him she got the hope she needed.

"I guess so." Hojo said smiling politely back.

"So that settles it. We'll meet up back at drop zone at nine." Kagome smiled and everyone broke into their pairs.

(Hojo & Ayumi)

After five minutes of awkward silence, they found a small ramen shop to eat at. Once they got their food, neither of them really talked to one another. Ayumi was getting frustrated with the awkward silence and began to speak.

"Hojo, may I ask you a question?"

"You just did." Hojo said smiling slightly at her.

"Yeah I guess I did. But other than that one." Ayumi said blushing slightly.

"Sure, go ahead."

" I know this may be personal but... what do you have against Kagome dating Inuyasha?"

Hojo looked up startled and after five minutes of no answer, Ayumi continued.

"I mean... don't you think Inuyasha's treating her right? To me, Inuyasha seems like the perfect match for her and she couldn't be happier... I-Is the r-reason you d-don't like the idea of t-them dating is b-because you s-still l-l-l-love Kagome?" Ayumi said stuttering, she knew she was probably crossing an invisible line but she felt like she needed to know.

"... What brought up these questions, Ayumi?" Hojo said very suspicious and not answering none of her questions.

Seeing that things were getting more awkward than they were before, Ayumi decided to drop the topic. "Never mind... Just forget I said anything."

Hojo looked at her more seriously, wondering what was going through her head. Hojo softly said to her, "No Ayumi. I want to know why you are asking me these questions."

(Kagome & Inuyasha)

Inuyasha and Kagome have been walking around playing mini carnival games after they ate corn dogs. They didn't feel like getting sick by going on another ride till there food digested. After playing just about every mini carnival game there they decided to walk around hand-in–hand.

"Kagome?"

"Yea?"

"Um... this may make you uncomfortable me asking this but what happened between you and Hojo? I mean since your brother brought it up that one time at dinner, then at the restaurant everything got out of hand..." Inuyasha said trailing off, feeling Kagome tense and stop walking, made him regret asking. "Never mind , Kagome, I don't need to know. It's a thing of the past." Inuyasha said softly kissing her on the forehead.

After Kagome got out of her semi- shocked state, she pulled him back towards her gently and said, " No, no no. It's alright Inuyasha. You just shocked me a little by asking me that. It will be good to get this off my chest, no one really knows the full story of what happened. Let's find a bench to sit on though, it's a long story."

Kagome and Inuyasha began walking around till they found a bench and Kagome began to tell the story that haunted her past and almost ruined her life... "Well it all began when..."

*Flashback* (Sango, Miroku, Hojo and Kagome are all 14 years old)

"Bye Kagome!" Sango yelled from the bottom of the Higuarshi Resident steps, waving up at Kagome.

"Bye guys!" Kagome yelled back at Sango and Miroku.

"Don't forget Parent Day tomorrow." Miroku yelled smiling at her.

"How could I forget, my mom keeps reminding me. Bye guys!" Kagome said smiling back and running to her front door and heading inside. "I'm home!"

"Kagome, come in here please. Your father and I would like to speak to you." Naomi , her mother, called from the kitchen.

"Alright, I'll be there in a sec." Kagome said quickly going to her room and changing into something more comfortable and headed back downstairs to find her parents sitting at the kitchen table.

"Good afternoon Kagome." Hitomi said smiling up at his daughter.

"Hello father. Hello mother. What is it that you needed to speak to me about?" Kagome said a bit formally when addressing her parents, afterward she sat down in front of her parents.

"Well, we just wanted to inform you that I wont be able to come with you to your school tomorrow." Naomi said, seeing the disappointed look on Kagome's face she continued. "Your aunt Luna came down with a fever and since she has no one to take care of her, she asked if I could visit her for a few days. I leave tomorrow morning, so I wont be able to go. But your father volunteered to go in my place."

"Oh..okay, I understand. Tell Aunty Luna I hope she feels better." Kagome said standing up and getting ready to leave. But her father's voice interrupted her departure.

"You don't mind do you, Kagome?" Hitomi asked kindheartedly.

"No father, I don't mind." Kagome said smiling at her father and left the room.

Parent Day: Lunch time –

At lunch Kagome and Hitomi met up with Sango, Miroku and their parents. Once they arrived, Hitomi went to talk with Sango and Miroku's fathers. Kagome, Miroku and Sango sat at a table a little ways away from them.

"Hey Kagome, I thought your mother was suppose to come?" Sango's mother asked kindly.

"Oh hello Mrs. Takija. She was but my aunt Luna came down with a fever so she went to go help her."

" Oh poor dear. Tell your mother I hope her sister returns to good health and that I will talk to her soon."

"Alright, bye Mrs. Takija." Kagome said when Sango's mother left the group.

Once Sango's mother left Miroku looked over at all their fathers. "What do you think they talk about when we are not around?"

"Who knows? Business most likely." Sango said also looking at their fathers.

"Well they can't talk about business all the time. They get together every week." Miroku replied.

"Shush! Their heading over here. But whose that man that's with them?" Kagome asked before they could get to their table.

"Kagome, Sango, Miroku, I'd like you to meet a good friend and boss of all of our sectors. This is Mr. Akitoki." Hitomi said informing all of them who the man was.

"Hello, it's very nice to meet you all." Mr. Akitoki "Mr. Takija, Mr. Higurashi, you have very beautiful

daughters." He said shaking each of their hands.

"Thank you." Kagome and Sango both replied at the compliment.

"Have you three had the chance of meeting my son? We just transferred here a week ago from across town."

The three teenagers looked at each other curiously and shook their heads no.

"You haven't? Let me go get him, I'm sure you guys will get along great." Mr. Akitoki said glancing around the room and his eyes landed on a boy across the room by himself. After three minutes he came back with the same boy.

" This is my son, Hojo. Hojo this is Kagome, Sango and Miroku. They are the son and daughters of the men I introduced you to earlier." His father told him, but he wasn't really paying attention to his words.

Hojo was too busy staring at the girl named Kagome to comprehend any of his fathers words after finding out each of their names. His trance was broken when his father hit him on the arm. "Hojo be polite."

"...O-oh I'm very sorry for zoning out like that. It's nice to meet all of you really." He said smiling politely at all of them.

"Likewise. It's always nice to met a new friend." Miroku said smiling back.

And from that moment, things became even stranger.

A Week Later –

Kagome came home with Miroku and Sango behind her. They decided to have a movie day at Kagome's since it was Saturday. Once they entered the house Miroku and Sango raided the movie cabinet, while Kagome went to the kitchen to pop some popcorn to see Kohaku and Souta already popping some.

"Hey, how come you guys are popping popcorn?" Kagome asked suspiciously.

" Can we join your movie night Kagome?" Kohaku asked innocently.

Seeing as both, Kahaku and Souta were giving her that 'lost" look she gave in " Sure why not? As long as you guys don't give commentary during the movie.

"Alright." Both of them happily agreed.

About an hour into their movie night, the five if them hear Hitomi come in from work. He walked into the living room to see 3 teens and 2 kids occupying it. "Hello everyone."

"Hey dad." Kagome and Souta answered back.

"Hi Mr. Higurashi." Sango, Miroku and Kohaku replied also.

"Kagome I have a favor to ask you. I know this is a bit extreme and I wouldn't ask you this unless it was extremely important." Upon hearing this Sango paused the movie.

By now everyone was wondering what Kagome and Souta's father could possibly ask of her that he had a regretful look on his face. "What is it dad?"

"You remember Mr. Akitoki my boss?"

"Yes, the man you introduced us to at parent day. What about him?"

"Remember his son?"

"Hojo? We talk to him sometimes in the hall. Dad what is this all about?" Kagome asked, really just wanting him to get to the point.

"Well, Mr. Akitoki is considering making me a partner but only if I agree to his terms..."

"Congratulations Mr. Higurashi but what does that have to do with Kagome, if you don't me asking."

Miroku asked politely.

"Well... his terms is that Kagome...dates his son."

The whole room went into complete and udder silence. Everyone staring at Kagome who was frozen still where she had been sitting.

"Kagome, I shouldn't have asked you that. I'm asking too much of you, forget I asked dear." Hitomi said turning to leave.

"...No it's okay dad. I know how long you've waited for this opportunity. I-I'll d-do it." Kagome said to her father stumbling over her words a bit.

"Kagome are you sure? I don't want to sacrifice my only daughters happiness for a job opportunity."

"I-I'm sure dad. Who knows I mind up actually liking him." Kagome slightly smiling at him.

"Thanks sweetie." Hitomi said hugging his daughter tightly then went to go call his boss and tell Naomi the good news and bad news.

When Hitomi, everyone apart from Kagome, began to speak at once.

"Kagome, are you sure you want to do this?" Sango asked

"Kagome, who is this Hojo kid?" Souta added.

"That kid is always with Ayumi, Eri and Yuka, why doesn't he just date one of them?" Miroku wondered out loud.

Surprisingly the only one who made actual sense was Kohaku. " I'm sure Kagome has a good reason for deciding to do this...S-she probably is just doing this for her f-father's sake." Everyone was shocked, usually Kohaku was the silent type around people. But they understood that Kagome was like another sister, apart from Sango.

"Thanks Kohaku." Kagome said hugging him, causing him to blush slightly and hug her back. Kagome answered their questions and un-paused the movie.

After that day things just got complicated.

*End of Flashback.*

"After that we started dating. My parents began fighting around then too. The reason they began was because of me. My mother thought that I should date Hojo because I wanted to and not because my father asked me too. Dad always felt horrible for making me do that and was a little happy to see me a little happy being with Hojo. But after we dated for about six months things started to get crazy. Hojo began getting really possessive telling me that I couldn't hang out with Sango and Miroku anymore. Almost breaking up their relationship in the process. So one day I just got tired of it... So I broke up with him after school one day, his father never liked me after that and I haven't spoken to Hojo till recently." Kagome said finally getting out why she ever dated Hojo in the first place.

Inuyasha, who has been quite the whole time, reached around her and hugged her tightly. " If he thinks he's going to take the best thing in my life away from me, then he's got another thing coming."

"I love you too Inuyasha." Kagome said smiling into his shoulder. After sitting like that for a few minutes. Kagome removed her arms. "I think it's time we find Sango and Miroku." Kagome said grabbing his hand and walking towards rides to find the couple.

A/N: Sorry guys, I know it's a while. But as you see this is a bit longer than usual. I hope to get some more stuff up in the next few weeks. Thanks for reading. R & R