A/N: Ack why do teachers give out so many projects anyways!?! Sorry about the delay you can blame my chem and Spanish teacher... In advance, sorry for any mistakes I might make here. As I said in my edit of last chapter, grammar is not my strong point... .


*Italic=Thoughts*


~*Chapter V: Only One Saw it Coming*~


Kagome watched the clock's hands moved ever so slowly. Having history right before lunch was one of the worst arrangements ever... Tick..............Tock.....................Tick................. While staring endlessly her mind went back to what happened the night before. Then she snuck a look at Sango was furiously scribbling notes... *Is it me or does Sango seem a little uneasy lately? All I said yesterday was that Inuyasha was the son of Inutaisho... She's not one of the shallow snobs, I know she isn't so what is it?*

"Kagome Higurashi?" the stern voice brought her crashing down to the present. Quickly she turned to her history teacher.

"Hai, sensei?"

She glared at Kagome while answering, "The office wants you."

Looking towards the door, Kagome saw that one of the office runners was there. Trying to run over everything she did in the past Kagome stood up. As she walked out, she exchanged a worried glance with Sango.

When Kagome got to the office, she knew something was amiss immediately. The secretary looked at her with soft pitying eyes.

"Kagome-chan, will you please have a seat?"

Warily, Kagome sat down.

Taking off her glasses, the secretary pinched the bridge of her nose as if she was thinking. Sighing she spoke, "I don't exactly know how to tell you this. I want you to stay calm though. Everything's fine."

Kagome's heart started pounding at the words she was hearing. *Does she think that by prolonging the suspense it's going to make it easier on me? Drat it woman spit it out!*


~*~


Inuyasha stared mindlessly out through the window. All of a sudden life had gotten very complicated. Yesterday's scene replayed itself in his mind constantly. Growling softly to himself, he ignored the scowl the teacher was shooting toward him.

It had all been fine just a year ago. He had gotten over Kikyou's death... Truth told, back then only Inuyasha had openly showed his emotions. He had never really known what Kikyou felt like because she had acted so damn proper. She never did anything that could offend anyone... He had been over her... But then that Christmas, he saw her. Smiling a full smile as she walked. That Kagome girl, who bore such a resemblance to Kikyou, it was uncanny. She had stormed into his life unasked, bringing with her, his memories of Kikyou.


~*~

"Wanami-san, could you just tell me what happened? I'm getting a little confused," Kagome interrupted when she couldn't take it any longer.

"Right, I'm sorry Kagome-chan. Your mother... Your mother is in the hospital."

Kagome stared dumbfounded. "My mother? You must be mistaken, my mom is one of the healthiest people there are."

"I'm sure this might come as a shock to you... The police just called. Earlier today, as your mom was going through the subway, two men attacked her. One of the bystanders got the police involved... By that time, she was unconscious... The only thing is, it wasn't even a robbery, her purse was intact... There were two more casualties. Two of the onlookers tried to help and were attacked..."

"Where is she? Can I go to her?" Kagome asked urgently.

"Of course," Wanami-san replied soothingly. "There's an officer waiting outside the front entrance to escort you... They had some questions–"

Kagome ran without waiting to hear the end of it.


~*~

"So you don't know if your mother had any enemies?" the officer was asking her.

Kagome shook her head angrily. "I know she didn't. My mom was the friendliest person you could ever meet! Why are you asking me this anyways?!"

"That was a planned attack. We found a picture of your mother and you in the possession of the attackers."

"Why?"

"That's what we're trying to figure out. Please Higurashi-san, try to answer my questions the best you can. I know you must be distraught after this incident, but we are trying to get to the bottom of this."

Kagome glared at the man in front of her. "You don't know."

"Excuse me?" the man asked.

"How can you say you know what I'm going through when you've never been through this?! That's my mother in there, attached to all those tubes... The one in there who's skin color doesn't show under all the bruises... The one who is still unconscious!" Kagome said icily.

The policeman in front cleared his throat. "I see this isn't going anywhere today. I do wish your mother gets well soon," with that he got up and left.


~*~

"What is Tokyo coming to these days? Ladies, please be careful when you leave your house. A middle-aged lady was attacked in the subway station earlier this morning. Reports say that she is still unconscious..."

Naraku laughed while watching the news.


~*~


"Are you Higurashi-san's guardian?" a nurse asked Kagome who was sitting in a chair near her mom.

"Yes," Kagome replied dully.

"Can you come with me please? The doctor would like to speak with you," the nurse asked and Kagome did as she was told. Nothing could get worse than this...

A dull pounding had started within Kagome's mind. Shock was slowly wearing off and with it the numbness left too.

"Ahh, you must be Higurashi-san's daughter," a young man around 25 stood up when Kagome entered a room.

Kagome nodded.

"Please have a seat."

She sat down. *My mother's in critical condition from what I can tell, and they have a novice in charge of her case?! He can't be over 25!!!*

"Ahem," the doctor coughed. "My name is Kisho Houjo, and I'm in charge of your mom's case."

Kagome just stared at him.

Gulping the doctor went on, "She seems to have fractured her skull when she hit her head... There are a few bone fractures, and bruises. Though the thing to keep in mind is there is no need to worry, your mom will gain consciousness within a few days.... Um Higurashi-san?"

Kagome kept staring.

The doctor looked at her worriedly before he smiled. "There's nothing to worry about Higurashi-san. Your mother will come out of this perfectly fine, she should be able to walk out of the hospital in about two months if everything goes smoothly. .. Ahem" He coughed. "Also if you're worrying, I am a qualified doctor, I skipped a few years of high school and went straight into Tokyo University Medical school." He gave her a confident and comforting smile. "You're mother is in capable hands."

For the first time that afternoon Kagome smiled, though it was a little sheepishly. Blushing she whispered, "I'm sorry... It wasn't that... Well it was only part of that..."

Houjo Sensei just laughed at the girl who reverted back into a normal teenager. "Don't worry about it, I get that a lot. Now you seem a little peaky, why don't you take some of these homemade anecdotes which would help boost your strength?" He handed her a plastic cup that had been sealed with some murky brownish liquid in it.

Kagome looked at it a little uneasily before smiling and answering, "Oh I couldn't, we don't have a lot of money."

"No it's on me."

Her smile faded a little before she stood up. "Thank you sensei, I think I'll go check on my mom now." Quickly fleeing she dumped the contents of the cup in a nearby plant's pot, which allowed the awful odor to penetrate her nose. Gagging, she went back to her mom.


~*~

"Oy, Inuyasha!" Miroku muttered waving a hand in front of Inuyasha's face.

Inuyasha grumbled as he was brought back into reality, "What do you want Miroku?"

Miroku smiled broadly ad he pointed to a girl standing next to him. Inuyasha just stared cluelessly. Seeing that Inuyasha obviously wasn't getting the picture Miroku started talking. "Inuyasha you remember why I wanted to transfer here?"

"You had a reason?" Inuyasha asked in a bored tone warily eyeing a clutter of girls in the corner who kept sneaking glances at him irritatingly.

Miroku sighed theatrically, "Inuyasha that hurts! You don't even remember my reason for transferring! Haraku can you wait for us in the computer lab? I remember where it is. Pull up all the information on Sango if you can." With that he pushed the girl out of the door and then came back to drag Inuyasha with him. Once they were in the hall, Miroku was satisfied that the gossip mill wasn't in hearing distance.

"Miroku! What the hell?!" Inuyasha sputtered as he was pulled out.

"Inuyasha will you shut up for a minute?!" Miroku snapped and interrupted leaving Inuyasha gaping for a second. "Look, I transferred here because remember that girl we met at that café? Oh hell, I'll remind you since there's a better chance that you remember there's a quiz tomorrow."

"What the hell are you talking about Miroku? And there is no quiz tomorrow my memory is perfectly fine!" Inuyasha spat out angrily and Miroku just waited for him to finish with a mocking look on his face.

"Well, do you remember who I'm talking about then? The girl with the headband that no normal girl could have? I helped design it so I would know!"

"What girl? Miroku how the hell am I supposed to remember a girl when you date a different one everyday?!"

"I didn't go out with her..."

"Then of course I don't know her!"

Miroku let out a sigh of exasperation, "Ok Inuyasha, well I called my contacts and found out her friend's school. The one who worked there, I think. I knew she was in our grade because she's a friend of Miari, or was it Minora... Anyways, it turns out Sango goes here too."

"Sango? Who's that? AND WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH ME?!" Inuyasha bellowed. Seeing people stick their heads out Miroku shoved Inuyasha toward the computer lab.

"Nothing to see people..." Lowering his voice he continued, "Inuyasha do you remember the Hanawas? The ones that died in that plane crash like seven years ago?" Looking at Inuyasha's blank look Miroku explained, "Well, the Hanawas were only your father's best business partner.. But okay well Mrs. Hanawa, used to be my mom's best friend... Even after my parents passed away when I was five, she and Mr. Hanawa would visit me... Once Mrs. Hanawa showed me a picture of her daughter remarking that she's so irresponsible. No Inuyasha, it's this way... She asked if I would take care of her daughter since, she seemed so reckless... Oh we're here."

Inuyasha still fuming, and Miroku finally made it to the computer lab. Haraku, was sitting at one of the computers near the door. Inuyasha growled as he had no idea about what was going on. Miroku smiled when he saw Haraku and pulled Inuyasha with him toward the computer. "Thanks Haraku, that's all I needed." He talked to her soothingly and walked her out promising to call her. Coming back to the computer he pulled up files from the school database that he had Haraku connect the computer with. Since she was the office aid, she had access to everything.

"Look, see this picture? This is an old picture from an article talking about that crash. Now this picture," he said clicking the mouse, "is of Sango Hanawa, second year at this high school."

Miroku turned and looked expectantly at Inuyasha. To his satisfaction he saw Inuyasha's eyes widen. "She's that little girl?"

Miroku nodded.

"Then why is she going to this cheap public school?" Inuyasha snapped. "This is why you dragged us both to this high school?"

"Inuyasha Gyong Hwa High is one of the highest accredited high school, the only difference from our old school is that it's public and doesn't have the garden, lounge, relaxing area, etc."

"Feh!"

"Inuyasha..."

"What does this have to do with me anyway?" Inuyasha grumbled.

"Aren't you curious about how the kids have been? I was only twelve so I wasn't responsible, I mean I only started remembering them when I was fourteen... That's only because I overheard you dad talk about how she went off on her own when she was twelve."

"Feh! What do you want me to do then?"

"I don't know... Now that I've found her, I don't know how I'm supposed to help..." Miroku finished a little sheepishly. "But the good thing is, we've found her!"

~*~*~

Sango rushed out when the bell rang, extremely worried about Kagome who hadn't returned. She ran to the office and asked the secretary where Kagome was. Annoyingly, she had to get into a verbal fight with the secretary before, she pieced enough information together to realize that Kagome went to the hospital to visit her mom. When Sango found that out she ran out again, knowing without asking the hospital Kagome's mom was in was most likely the one closest to the high school. Gyong Hwa High had a high percentage of students wanting to goto the medical career because they had one of the best hospitals in Tokyo only a few blocks away. So many of her friends went to intern there, she could practically go with her eyes closed.

As she was running toward the stairs she bumped into someone. Cursing under her breath, Sango didn't stop but just kept running. She had to find Kagome.

~*~*~

"Um Miss? I was wondering how much is my mom's surgery going to cost?" Kagome asked at the front desk.

"Oh Miss Higurashi! Here's the file. The rough total for her treatment is at the bottom."

Kagome thanked her quietly and walked away looking at the file. As her eyes scanned through, she reached the bottom. The number she read had way too many commas for her sanity. Quickly her eyes jumped to the summaries of the cost. Kagome bit her lip as she saw that her mom's treatment in the emergency room alone was more than they could afford. She had no idea how she would pay for the hospitalization and the treatment her mom needed...

Swaying, Kagome reached for the wall to steady herself.

"Kagome-chan!"

Closing the folder with one hand, Kagome forced a smile onto her face. Still leaning against the wall, she greeted Sango, carefully holding onto the folder behind her. "Oh, hi Sango-chan."

"Kagome-chan are you alright?! Did you eat lunch? I came as soon as school was over... Kagome?" Sango asked as she came up to the pale girl.

Kagome smiled, "I'm fine... I think I just need to eat something. I didn't have the chance before.."

Sango looked at her worry blatant in her eyes. "Kagome stand away from the wall."

"No, I just need to stay here for a second."

"Kagome," Sango said seriously, "if you're really okay why are you leaning against the wall?"

"Wall? What wall?" Kagome asked with a grin stepping forward, and to her utter annoyance, she felt her legs give underneath her. Grinning sheepishly, she felt Sango catch her, and pull her arm around Sango's neck. "Heh.. I guess I'm just a little tired.."

~*~*~


A/N: There we go^^. Next chapter up hopefully this Sunday but it's not definite as next week is finals... Borderline grads _v_;;;


Thanks to Sailor-helios- Hope I cleaned up the fragments a little! Thanks for bearing with me ^^. **FukashiOni-Sorry about the grammatical errors. But thanks for reading!^^**Angelmoon14-Well it won't be quiet that's all I can say... ^^ Some people haven't realized what their true feelings are yet.^^ ** Moodeyes- Awww, thanks! I'm sorry about your tooth . I hate the dentists! Evil!!!!^^