Inuyasha walked with Kagome and Souta to school. Mama had fixed his hair again to cover his ears, and he was wearing the hat just in case. Souta was walking right beside Inuyasha, and kept trying to match his strides. Kagome tried to hide a small smile when she noticed her brother trying to act like Inuyasha, but she didn't hide it well.

"Hey, kid. Why didn't you walk to school the same time as Kagome yesterday?"

"You guys left too early."

"Yeah, but after she was at school, you were still at the shrine when I got back there."

"Well, the stupid cat wouldn't come and get his food. I ran and made it just as the bell rang, though."

"If you knew you were going to be late, I could have helped you get there faster."

"I didn't think about it, that old well makes me nervous and getting to school wasn't as important at the time as just getting away from the well."

"What is up with that well, anyway? When I went in to get the cat I thought for a moment that there was a youkai nearby. It faded soon after I caught the scent though."

Kagome suddenly spoke up. "We aren't allowed near the well, I was surprised when Grandpa suggested to hide you in there. The legend says that well used to devour the bodies of youkai when they were thrown into it. That is why they call it the 'Bone Eater's Well'. It has always made me a little nervous, even walking by the well house. I never want to be that close to the well ever again. I don't know how you could have stayed down there that long, I would have been running out screaming even if I was hiding from the police."
"Keh, I ain't scared of no well. It is odd, though. I remember Kikyo telling me about it. They never knew what happened to the youkai corpses that they threw into it. It was like they were taken somewhere else by morning. Kikyo once said that with the bones that were sometimes still at the bottom of the well it was almost like overnight they had decayed and aged by at least a few centuries. She thought maybe time flowed through the well like the water that was supposed to be there but wasn't. I think maybe she was a little crazy."

"Hey, Inuyasha, why do Kagome and I have to go to school and you don't?"

"Why would I go to school?"

"To get an education, they teach you a lot at school. Sometimes it is even fun."

"I know all I need to know, I don't need to go to school."

"Kagome, ask him about something you have learned recently. I am in a lower grade, and he seems to be more your age."

"Umm, OK. Inuyasha, what is the square root of pi?"

"Huh?"

Souta smile triumphantly, "See? You do need to go to school!"

"No I don't. I think I am going to walk around a bit, you guys can make it to school on your own."

Before he had a chance to get away, "Kagome!"

"Who is your friend?"

"We've never seen you around before, are you new at school?"

"How long have you known each other?"

"Didn't it go well with Hojo?"

"Look at those eyes!"

"What an interesting hair color!"

"Do you live around here?"

"Kagome, how come you never told us about him?"

"Are the two of you a couple?"

Kagome's face was instantly red when her three friends started asking questions about Inuyasha. Souta placed a hand over his mouth to hide the giggling, and looked at Inuyasha to see what his reaction was like. Inuyasha assessed the situation, and thought that he could have some fun with this. He was sure Kagome would never tell him he would have to go to school ever again. He gave Souta a wink, then put his arm around Kagome and pulled her close to him.

"What? You never told your friends about me? I told my friends about you. Are you embarrassed by me, honey?"

"What?!?"

"Well, let me introduce myself, girls. My name is Inuyasha and I have known Kagome since she was a baby. I can't imagine why she wouldn't mention me to her friends, we are so close."

The three girls all shared a puzzled look (besides Kagome, who was completely bewildered and not sharing the state of mind with any one else), and at the same time said "Inuyasha? Isn't that-"

"The name of the hanyou in the legend of the tree? Yes, it is. As I told Hojo yesterday, the legend was a big deal in my family and my father picked the name for me."

The one with the shortest hair looked at the other two, then turned to Kagome and Inuyasha. "You, you talked to Hojo yesterday? Was it after the movie and dinner?"

"Yeah, I was out taking a walk and ran into Kagome and Hojo while they were heading back to the shrine. He seems nice, one of you three should ask him out. Souta, don't be late for school."

Inuyasha gave the boy another wink, and the kid was still trying to hide his giggling as he left the scene. Kagome still wasn't talking, just staring blankly. Inuyasha was starting to worry about her, but as soon as the bell rang her eyes widened and she shouted "Well, there's the bell! We have to get to class now!" Her face was still red, and Inuyasha could tell that she was hoping the other girls would run ahead so she could at least get a few words in, in private. Unfortunately for her, they stood right there waiting. Inuyasha couldn't pass on the opportunity and gave her a quick peck on the cheek. "See you after school, bye girls!" The other three girls waved when all four turned to hurry into the school. Inuyasha could tell that Kagome was furious, he was suddenly glad that she hadn't had any of those subjugation beads that were reportedly used on Naraku during the final battle (according to the history book that Kagome had read to him). He had heard of them before, and knew that they were no fun for the demon wearing them.