"Kagome!"

Automatically, Kagome waved at her schoolmate and smiled. "Niki-chan. Everything okay?"

"Just making sure you're still here!" the girl said with a grin as she slowed to a stop by her friend. "After being in and out for so long, we're worried you'll disappear in another day."

Kagome sweatdropped at that, but smiled at her friend. How could she tell her friends why she'd been gone so often? She couldn't; they'd never believe her. Her grandfather had made up tales of illnesses, although Kagome didn't know where he came up with the illnesses. What teenager had gout?

She'd been back in Tokyo for a week now. In some ways, her time in the past seemed to have never happened. She fingered the prayer beads she wore beneath her school uniform, and sighed. Once, all she would have wanted was for her split life to go back to normal.

"Kagome, we're going to be late!" Niki grabbed her hand, and dragged Kagome with her. Laughing a little, Kagome followed, glad to be pulled away from her depressing thoughts.

Entering the classroom, Niki split off from her and went to greet some of their friends. Kagome headed towards her desk, setting her bag on top of it. She was about to sit down when a commotion in the hallway drew her attention. Exchanging curious looks, she and a few other students hastened to the doorway, peering into the hall.

"I already told you, I am -not- cutting my hair!" a boy's voice protested angrily from behind a teacher.

"It's against school regulations!"

"I don't think my hair is going to distract people from their studies, unless you start yelling at me about it during class," the boy's voice came coldly. Everyone in the doorway strained to see his face. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I should be getting to class. Unless you're going to try to cut my hair for me right now."

The teacher turned red. "This is going to be reported to your parents!"

"If you find them, let me know," he said casually, stepping around the teacher and flipping him a wave. "The government hasn't been able to for years."

The girls started whispering as they caught sight of his face. "Oh, I hope he's in our class..." Kagome heard Niki whisper to her, with a slight giggle. "It'd be such a waste for Homeroom C to get him!"

"You don't even know if he's in our grade," Kagome whispered back. She kept her eyes riveted on the young man. As he approached their room, Kagome ducked back inside, and headed back to her seat, her heart pounding. She heard a few more giggles from the doorway, and glanced back to see the group of students stepping aside to let the boy in. She turned away, and concentrated on rearranging the contents of her bag until the bell rang.

She stood automatically as the teacher entered, and repeated the ritual greeting. As she sat down again, the teacher motioned towards the corner. Kagome didn't turn as the boy started forwards towards the front of the room. She'd been mistaken earlier, she told herself. She was imagining things.

"Please welcome our new student," the teacher said disinterestedly.

"Inuya Shasan," he supplied, the same degree of disinterest in his voice.

Kagome fainted.