Disclaimer: Alright! Alright! I don't own Inuyasha! Happy now!? Humph... Just kill my dreams, why don't you...

A/N: Fine! I admit that I lagged with this chapter. So, sue me, why don't you!?! (Getting irritated with life... It's too cruel...) Also, somebody finally submitted the names of Kagome's three friends AFTER I had this chapter up, so I decided might as well make the changes while I'm at it... *sigh*

Happy Birthday!

by Nankinmai

Chapter 4 - Oh No! I'm Late!

Kagome moaned and pulled the covers over her head, trying to block out the bright sunlight. Vaguely, she tried to recalled the dream she had as she slowly drift back to sleep. 'The bed sure is nice,' thought Kagome, although she could have sworn that she fell asleep at her desk. Suddenly, she bolted right out of her bed and grabbed her alarm clock. It merely took her one glance for her to scream.

"KYYAAAAAAAA!!!"

Inuyasha heard the scream and recognized it as Kagome's. He scrambled out from under the covers and practically pulled the door off its hinges as he opened it. He took one step into the hallway before barely registering his brain that it was Kagome running towards him. As he was about to ask what the problem was, he got knocked into the wall and slumped down to the floor. Meanwhile, the miko didn't notice anything around her except the bathroom, since she was running really late.

The hanyou could only stay on the floor as he watched Kagome enter the bathroom, exit it, run back to her bedroom (while nearing tripping over Inuyasha's legs), back out with her backpack, down the stairs, heard her yell out "I'm leaving!" and the door slammed shut. Inuyasha stayed that way until he felt somebody tweaking on his ears. He looked up to see Mrs. Higurashi standing next to him, looking at him with a bright smile.

"This kind of morning is expected every now and then," explained Mrs. Higurashi.

"Uh huh..." replied Inuyasha. His brain definitely wasn't functioning this morning.

"How would you like to come with me while I go shopping? I'm sure you would like to get Kagome a present while we're at it." suggested the elder. 'That's right. I have nothing to give Kagome,' thought Inuyasha.

"But I don't have any of your currency to purchase anything."

"That's alright. We'll figure something out. Now come, get up and get dressed. We'll be leaving soon." Mrs. Higurashi walked back down the stairs as Inuyasha took his time to walk back to Souta's room. That was when he finally noticed that Souta wasn't in his bed or in the house either. 'Damn, how was that brat able to get pass me without me noticing...'

Three hours later found Mrs. Higurashi walking out of a market and down the street. Not far behind her was a hanyou wearing his usual haori and a red cap to match. [Yes! Just like the anime! ^^] The people around them were staring at the sight, but not because of Inuyasha's strange clothing or the fact that he wasn't wearing any shoes. Every single one of them could only stare and wonder how that lean young man could carry so much stuff in his arms, for the boxes he was holding were piled over his head and he was still holding onto at least fours bags of groceries in each hand. A mere human would be stumbling along till the weight finally brought him down to the ground. This young man looked as if he was only carrying a single book in his hands. Although it wasn't surprising that his view was blocked from the boxes, for he soon bumped into a mailbox, but the crowd grew even more shock that this boy could have such a good balance, for he didn't even fell onto his behind nor drop anything. Just who was this boy?

Inuyasha was getting irritated at all the staring. He glanced upward to make sure his cap was still on, so he knew they couldn't be staring at his ears. Was it his clothing? He didn't step on something, did he? 'Too bad I can't check my feet right now...' He took a quick sniff and noticed that Mrs. Higurashi walked into a store just up ahead. As he walked in after her, he felt relieved that he would no longer be stared at...

~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~

"Come on, Kagome! It's lunch time!"

Kagome sighed and felt horribly depressed. 'That English test was harder than I thought... I wished I could have studied more last night instead of falling asleep...'

"Oi, Kagome! Are you coming or not!?"

"Hai, hai." The miko slowly got up and walked out of the classroom. As she approached her three friends, a certain somebody got to her first.

"Otanjoubiomedetougozaimasu, Kagome!" exclaimed Hojo as soon as he was right next to her.

"Arigato," said Kagome, as she accepted the present that Hojo handed to her. She opened it to find several packages of herbal medicine. Confused, she looked up to Hojo.

"I heard that the last time you were ill, you had some kind of jungle fever. I had my great uncle prescribed you some of these medicine in case you get it again." Kagome and her friends could only sweat drop. Kagome thought, 'Grandpa, WHY in the world would I be getting jungle fever of all things... Then again, one of the sicknesses he used last time was gout..." Meanwhile, her friends were whispering with each other. "Wasn't she supposed to be in the hospital testing for possible cancer at that time?" "I thought it was the mysterious rash again." "I was told that it was malaria." Unfortunately, they didn't whisper softly enough and Kagome could only sweat drop even more.

"Anyway, I'll see you later, Kagome! Have a good lunch now, okay?" Hojo said as he waved goodbye. They watched him walked towards his friends at the end of the hall. [Yes, he has friends... =P]

"Eh heh heh... Hai," Kagome weakly replied. 'My birthday isn't turning out to be the way I wanted...'

Wanting to switch topics, Yuka asked, "So Kagome, what do you have planned for your birthday today?"

"Eh? Well, when school's out, I have to head straight back home. We're having our usual family dinner." 'Well, not usual. Since Inuyasha's going to be there this time,' thought Kagome.

"Then how about we hang out for a bit after school to celebrate your birthday?" suggested Eri.

"Yeah! You have the same family dinner every year. Let's go have some fun before you go home!" said the excited Ayame.

"Saa... I'm not so sure about that..." said Kagome, while thinking, 'I don't want Inuyasha to get irritated about me being late in coming home.'

"Come on, Kagome. At least go window shopping with us for a short while," said Yuka.

"Yeah! That would be so much fun!" Ayame yelled. [Okay, so I guess Ayame can be the curly hair girl... Right???] Kagome paused when she heard the word "shopping". 'That's right! I still have to get Inuyasha a present! Demo... I don't know what to get someone like him... Inuyasha's possessions merely consist of his clothing and his Tetsusaiga, so he doesn't really need anything else... Err... This sucks...'

"Alright, I'll go with you guys for a short while," said Kagome.

"Yeah! Let's go!" shouted Ayame.

"Anou, Ayame. It's still lunch time, so school's not over yet," said Eri.

"Opps. Heheh, gomen..." apologized Ayame.

"But we do have to go to class now. Come on!" yelled Yuka, as she dragged the others towards class.

~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~

Japanese terms: (See earlier chapters for others.)

Oi - hey

Otanjoubiomedetougozaimasu - Happy Birthday

Saa - I don't know

Demo - but

~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~

A/N: I've decided. Since I took so long with this chapter, I'll post the next one the very next day! How about that, eh? Aren't I just the nicest? XD

I like to express "Thanks" to Hanyou-Girl25, Chickengirl, burnsybabe, and Viper for reviewing while expressing my "Love" to Bunny for being there all the way! (Alright, it hasn't been that long, but oh well...) Oh yeah, I wasn't even sure of myself about what Kagome was dreaming about in the last chapter. I forgot if it was the anime or another fanfic, but it popped into my mind with the "Osuwari" and I suppose the "Please be careful" is from all the times that Kagome would be worry whenever Inuyasha gets into a battle. But I'll try to incorporate it into the story somehow... In some way... =\

Inuyasha - I can't believe you made Kagome push me into the wall!
Nankinmai - I told you that you wouldn't like it...
Inuyasha - Just who do you think I am, wench!?!
Nankinmai - Could you please keep it down? -_-*
Inuyasha - Not until you rewrite this chapter!
Nankinami - Kagome, please...
Kagome - Osuwari!
Inuyasha - *thud*
Nankinmai - Arigato. And please take him away...
Kagome - *drags Inuyasha across the room* Minna-san, ja ne!