Kagome walked into the classroom and saw her friends conversing near the window. She led Sango to her friends. Kagome had been surprised when Sango had said that she was in the same class as her. I hope I can become friends with this girl, even if she isn't the Sango that I know.
"…yeah, and I heard that Musashino might be coming back to school soon," one of her friends said.
"Oh really? Do you know when?" another said.
"Let's try to get Kagome with him. After all, I don't think Hojo-kun is really that interesting to be with."
"Yeah, and maybe he'll be able to make her forget about that other—oof!" her friend gasped as someone elbowed her in the stomach to warn her that Kagome was here.
"What are you three planning again?" Kagome asked, slightly red with irritation and embarrassment at her friends' conversation.
"Oh, nothing really," her friend with the hair band said, "Hey! Who's this?"
"I'm Yamata Sango. I think I'm your new classmate," Sango said, bowing slightly.
"Don't be so formal!" Kagome's friend said, but she was interrupted when the teacher walked through the door and started class.
Shippou was amazed by the school and its playground, and the teachers were also so nice. So this is what Kagome's world is like. When the students were out for break, Souta taught him how to use the different things on the playground. He taught Shippou how to play on the monkey bars, the jungle gym, the swings, and the slide. It was the slide that caused the problem.
Souta and Shippou had been up at the slide, with Souta explaining to him how it worked, when a kid climbed up the steps to the slide and shoved Souta down the slide because he was in her way. Souta had slid down the slide diagonally, and landed on his arm. He didn't move from the spot in which he landed, so the girl just slid down the slide and landed on top of him. Shippou had quickly run down the steps and asked him what was wrong when he saw Souta's arm angled funny. Shippou hadn't been in the Sengoku Jidai for nothing, and he knew a broken arm when he saw one, especially since a certain dog demon broke his arm sometimes.
So a good first day at school ended with a lousy afternoon in the hospital. Shippou had stayed as close to Souta as he could in the hospital, along with Mrs. Higurashi. Even though Souta kept on insisting he was all right, Mrs. Higurashi still had a worried expression on her face. Finally she had gone home to tell Kagome what had happened after the girl returned from school, and told Shippou to wait at the hospital next to Souta.
"Shippou, you can go home," Souta said to the child next to him, who shook his head violently, refusing to leave his friend's side.
"I'm going to stay here and make sure that that evil girl doesn't come here," he said, his voice shaking slightly. I- I won't let anyone harm my friends as long as I'm alive! I won't stand by the sidelines and watch anymore. I don't want to lose any more people…
Suddenly Kagome burst into the room, her worry clear on her face and she started bombarding Souta with questions. Shippou tried to make himself scarce in his chair, wishing he could disappear. What if Kagome blames me for Souta's injury? What if she gets mad at me for being unable to protect him like Inuyasha protected her? What if she gets mad at me for being unable to protect anyone?
Kagome turned to Shippou and noticed that he looked afraid. But afraid of who? She was surprised to discover that Shippou seemed to be afraid of her. But why? Does Shippou think I'm going to blame him for my brother's injury? Oh, Shippou-chan… I never should have let you follow me in the first place. Then you wouldn't have seen what you saw. Shippou-chan…it's not your fault. None of it was your fault.
She picked Shippou up and started inspecting him, surprising Shippou. When she seemed satisfied, she put him down again.
"Nee-chan, what were you doing?" Souta asked, surprised with his sister's behavior.
"I was checking to make sure Shippou wasn't hurt by that girl, either," Kagome said, smiling. Then her face turned angry. "That stupid girl. What did she think she was doing? She should know better than to mess with the Higurashi family. Shippou-chan," she said, turning to the child and hoping that she could somehow get him to realize that all that had happened was not his fault, "If you see her again, try to play a trick on her. Scare her or something with your magic, got it?"
Shippou was confused my Kagome's behavior, but nodded. She isn't mad with me?
"Hey, Shippou-chan," Kagome said, settling herself into a seat. "Can you please get me a drink from the vendor while I talk to Souta? Thanks," she said as she dropped some coins into Shippou's hand.
"But Kagome," Shippou said, looking at the coins in confusion, "I don't know how to count money."
"Oh it's okay, Shippou-chan," Kagome said, grinning, "all you have to do is put the coins in a hole. I gave you the exact change for a drink, so all you do is put them in, push a button for a drink, then wait as the drink comes out. It's okay if you get it wrong," she said, trying not to scare Shippou with this small responsibility. Don't want him to be scared of putting a couple coins in a vending machine. The Shippou I knew from before wasn't like this. I hope he can get past this and return to his old self soon… "I'll teach you if you get it wrong. Don't worry, Shippou-chan. It's not like you to be all nervous all the time," she said, rubbing the child's hair. "Now go. Take as long as you want."
Shippou reluctantly walked out of the room, heading down the hall to where he had seen a vending machine earlier. Souta had shown him what a vending machine was earlier that day, when they were walking to school. As he walked down the hallway, he heard a familiar voice coming out from one of the rooms. He peeked into the room to make sure that the voice he heard was indeed from that person.
"I'm fine, I'm fine," a boy around Kagome's age said. The boy took up a comb and started to comb his raven black hair absentmindedly as he packed up some of his belongings with his other hand. Shippou saw the boy stuff magazines, games, and get-well cards all into a bag.
"Are you sure?" the mother's worried voice rang out as she cleared away the trash on the table. "You had better not be lying to me!" she threatened.
"Okaa-chan!" the boy said exasperatedly, turning around. Shippou saw the boy's face, looking slightly annoyed at the moment. Inu—Inuyasha! Shippou was about to run and hug his friend, but was stopped by the mother's voice and the memory of the Sango look-alike who didn't remember anything at all.
"Musashino! Don't you take that tone with me," she said, her voice stern. "Just because you've been the hospital the last few months doesn't mean I'm going to start going easy on you. In fact, I'll be harsher on you than ever! How dare you make your mother so worried?" she said, starting to cry. The boy called Musashino rolled his eyes, and walked over to his mother, hugging her and mumbling half-hearted apologies.
Shippou slipped away from the door and ran back to Kagome. I have to tell Kagome about this! First Sango, then Inuyasha! Maybe everyone is in Kagome's world. At least, I hope…
He entered the room and started to drag Kagome out of the chair.
"Shippou-chan, what are you doing?" Kagome asked, surprised the see the old glitter back in Shippou's eyes.
"Kagome, come on! I want you to see something. Hurry," Shippou said, running out of the room.
"I'll be back, okay, Souta?" she said to her brother, then left to follow Shippou. I wonder what's got Shippou so excited. Whatever it is, I'm thankful. I was beginning to think that I would never see the Shippou I knew when Inuyasha was still here ever again. She followed Shippou into an empty hospital room.
"Oh no! They're gone!" Shippou cried, looking frantically in the room, then running to the hallway, searching for someone.
"Shippou-chan, who are you talking about?" Kagome asked, looking down the hallway and seeing no one.
Shippou seemed angry and confused with himself. I can't tell Kagome that I saw someone who looks like Inuyasha. Inuyasha told me to protect Kagome, and if I tell her, she might want to chase him down, and what if the person I saw that looked like Inuyasha was actually Naraku? What if that was Naraku in disguise, trying to kill Kagome? No, I can't tell her. I can't tell her anything. I don't want to let the Inuyasha I know is real down.
"Shippou-chan!" Kagome said a bit louder when the child didn't reply her. He just faced her and gave her a strange smile.
"Ha ha, tricked you," Shippou said, laughing weakly. Then he headed towards Souta's room again.
Shippou-chan…has returned to being that false cheerful boy again. I wonder…what did you see to bring your old self out for that brief moment? Kagome looked sadly at the retreating boy's back, worried for Shippou. I don't know what to do. If anyone was acting weird or depressed back then, Inuyasha would usually say something insulting to them to get them angry, or try to make them hate him to get their minds off whatever was bothering them. But Inuyasha isn't here right now, and I don't know how to do what you do, Inuyasha. Inuyasha…what do I do? What do I do to get Shippou back again?
She felt her eyes water with tears, but quickly wiped it away. She was determined not to let Shippou feel her sadness; he already had enough to bear.