Disclaimer: Inuyasha does not belong to me!

Chapter 4

When Kagome woke up the next morning, she felt a sharp pain in her shoulder which reminded her of the previous day's events. She made her way to the living room, where Miroku and Sota sat on the sofa watching cartoons. Both looked up momentarily, then turned their attention back to the television. Miroku, staring at the box, appeared to be mesmerized by the moving drawings.

"You guys are already up?" she asked.

Sota nodded. "It's almost 8 o'clock, Sis."

"Eight! Why didn't you wake me up Sota!" she shouted as her little brother cowered away from his older, fuming sister. "I don't even have time to bathe now!"

"Sorry…"

"Ahh!" Kagome turned away and headed up the stairs to quickly change into her school uniform. She looked at her shoulder as she removed her pajamas and noticed that a darkened bruise had now appeared. Kagome tried her best to get dressed without disturbing her shoulder, which when touched, caused her to cringe in pain.

She ran down the stairs hurriedly, grabbing her backpack which she had left on the sofa the previous day. "Sota, get your act together. We're going to be late," she commented trying to heave the large pack on her shoulder. The terrible pain that exuded through her shoulder caused her to drop the pack as her books flew from it. Kagome sighed, grasping her shoulder in pain.

Miroku approached her curiously, as he began to gather her books. "You're leaving?" he asked.

"Oh, no! I forgot Miroku. We were supposed to try the well this morning," she replied, remembering her promise to the monk. "I'm afraid I will be late to take my test this morning if we do, but…"

Miroku grinned as he put the texts back into her backpack. "We can take care of that later. You have other things to attend to."

"Really?" Kagome asked, shocked. The monk nodded. "Miroku, I promise you we'll try it as soon as I get back!"

"Very well then." He slung her bag on his shoulder. "Where is your school?"

Kagome looked at the monk questioningly. "Not far from here, I usually walk…"

"I will walk with you and carry your things."

"Miroku, you don't have to-"

"I want to. You're in too much pain to carry this yourself. Besides, what else am I to do today?" She studied the monk's expression. He did not appear irritated or angry. Miroku is definitely no Inuyasha.

Kagome smiled. "Oh thank you, Miroku. I appreciate this so much! But there's one thing you will have to do before we leave…"

***

Kagome smiled as Miroku tugged at his sweater. "This feels odd," he said looking at the girl strangely. Kagome had insisted that Miroku change into something more up to date. He almost looked like a normal man from the 21st century. Almost. The only thing she could find for him to wear belonged to Grandpa, so he looked more like a teenager in old man clothing.

"It's only for one day," she assured him, "I just wanted you to wear normal clothing so people wouldn't bother you with questions."

"Are you insinuating that my robes are 'abnormal'?" he said with a cocky grin. Kagome smiled. She wished Inuyasha had his sense of humor. Unfortunately, Inuyasha was one to always take everything too seriously.

The two walked out towards the street as Sota headed in the direction of his school. Miroku took a step off the curb as a car whizzed by. "Oh, watch out, Miroku," Kagome warned, extending her arm out in front of his chest.  The monk gasped and immediately stepped back onto the curb.

"What was that?" The monk's eyes were now bugging out of his head. The poor guy looked as if he were about to have a heart attack.

"I'm sorry, I forgot to warn you about those," she replied. "They're cars. They're for transportation."

"How?"

"How? They're machines. People ride in them from place to place."

Miroku watched nervously as several more automobiles passed by. "Oh."

"Don't worry, Miroku. Just stay out of the road when they're coming and you won't get ran over."

"How reassuring," replied the beleaguered monk. Kagome smiled, taking his tense arm in hers as she led him across the street. The monk looked at her uncertainly, but was more than relieved that she had showed him the way.

Miroku eyed their surroundings in wonder. Building after building and hardly any greenery whatsoever. The stench was a little overpowering as well. The smell was like something he had never smelt before. He began to wonder how Inuyasha could handle such a stink with the strong sense of smell he had.

The two walked for a few more blocks until they came to Kagome's school. "This is it, Miroku." He grinned and nodded. "Well, do you think you can find your way back?"

"I think so-"

"Hey Kagome!" Her friend Eri approached the two with a large smile. "Who's this?" she asked motioning towards Miroku, who smiled sweetly at the girl.

"Oh Eri, this is my friend Miroku. Miroku, this is Eri."

Miroku smiled as the two exchanged greetings. He studied the girl momentarily as a sly grin came over his face.

"Where are you from, Miroku?"

Miroku, looking a little confused, began to answer as Kagome butt in. "He's from Chiba. He's visiting for a couple of days."

"Oh," Eri replied. "Are you enjoying your stay?" she asked.

"Without a doubt," Miroku replied grinning.

Kagome turned back to the monk as Eri walked away. "Are you sure you can find your way back, Miroku? It's not too far away, but we did make a lot of turns."

"I'm sure I can handle it," the monk replied.

Kagome smiled. "Thank you for walking with me. I can take this from here," she said grabbing the backpack from Miroku and carefully putting it on her good shoulder. Miroku smiled as he turned back in the direction of the shrine.

***

The monk's palms grew sweaty as he passed through an unfamiliar alley. Just where in the hell am I? Finding his way back to Kagome's home proved more difficult that he'd thought. Everything looked the same to him and he couldn't remember which street to turn onto. Unknowingly, the monk nervously began to walk farther and farther away from the Higurashi shrine.