Class Trip Ch. 6- A Hiking We Will Go!

The class got off the bus and found their packs in the cargo hold, then Miss Nomiso gathered them into a group. Inuyasha was still carrying both his pack and Kagome's. He wasn't complaining- it still weighed less than the usual one. Hitoshii stood to one side, and Kagome was on the other. The girls were watching every move they made.

"Okay," Miss Nomiso began once she had everyone's attention, "You all know I'm new, and I don't know all your names. So, if you have a question, raise your hand. When I call on you, please give me your name when I call on you, ok?" The class nodded their agreement.

"Good! First off, while we are on this trip I expect everyone to follow basic safety. We will be using both matches and pocket knives at some time during this trip. There will be NO funny business! I will not hesitate to call the ranger station and have you removed." Several of the rowdier boys in the crowd gulped.

"Secondly, you are at no time permitted to touch my things, ESPECIALLY the radio. This is our only link to civilization, and I think you all want that to remain safe." She showed them the radio clipped to her belt. The class nodded again in response to that statement. No electronic devices except CD/MP3 Players had been allowed on the trip, and were only allowed to be used once the group had camped for the night.

"Other than these rules," Miss Nomiso started again, "the rules are simple common sense. Don't cause trouble, stay with the group and have fun!" She grinned broadly as the class cheered again (A/N- remember, last chapter???).

"Well, I told you all to find partners. Your partner will be your tent mate. NO co-ed tents!" The class groaned. She glared at them until they all shut up.

"Find your partner, then come up and get a tent. You will be responsible for the tent. Any damage will be paid for by you, not the school!"

Kagome, Eri, Yuka and Ayumi quickly got their tents, and Kagome offered to carry both (intending to make Inuyasha do the actual work). Meanwhile, Inuyasha and Hitoshii got their tent as well, with Hitoshii volunteering to catty it once he caught the obvious gleam in Kagome's eyes. His instincts were right.

By the time they started walking, Inuyasha was carrying both his and Kagome's packs and both of the girls' tents.

After almost an hour of hiking, Hitoshii was still marveling at Inuyasha. 'He's been carrying two packs and two tents for almost an hour now, and he's still walking as fast or faster than most of the class!'

Inuyasha, meanwhile, was arguing with Kagome over carrying even MORE baggage.

"Yuka-chan, Eri-chan and Ayumi-chan are tired! You can carry plenty more and you know it!"

"Why should I carry THEIR stuff!? I said I'd carry yours like I always wind up doing anyway, but I never agreed to carry EVERYONE'S stuff!"

"You also agreed to do what I told you, and I'm TELLING you to CARRY THE PACKS!!!"

He easily recognized the tone of voice. It usually preceded an "OSUWARI!!".

"Keh. Fine, I'll carry the damn things. But tie 'em together or somethin'. I only have so much shoulder, ya know."

Kagome was shocked. 'He actually agreed? And I didn't even have to use a single 'osuwari'? He must be sick or something.'

So, she tied the girls' bags together with her own and Inuyasha's, leaving Tetsusaiga accessible enough that he wouldn't complain, and gave the whole thing back to him. 'It isn't really that bad. Only a little heavier than the usual one, actually. What the hell does she put in that thing, anyway!?'

Hitoshii's eyes were now bulging out of his head. 'He just took THREE more packs like it was nothing! He's carrying FIVE packs and two tents, and making it look easy! Who the hell is this guy!?' As Hitoshii gaped, Miss Nomiso called out,

"That's an hour, guys! Time for a break!"

Again, Inuyasha wished for earplugs.

The class took a fifteen minute break, during most of which Inuyasha sat on a tree limb and mused.

Why would Kagome want to go on some stupid hiking trip so badly that she wouldn't even tell him about it? He wouldn't have let her go, but then all she had to do was pull the classic "'Osuwari!'-and-run" routine. They'd done it so many times he's nearly forgotten that he COULD just LET her go.

'What if I did just let her go sometime? She'd probably look at me like I'm crazy or somethin'.'

She had said something about letting things go once. He'd mostly ignored it, once she got to that point. He'd figured she was just dropping hints about wanting to go home again.

'What was it she said anyway?' he wished he could remember. 'Might give me some idea why the hell she always wants to leave.'

Hitoshii sat on the other side of the clearing, wondering how the heck Inuyasha got fifteen feet up in a tree without being seen climbing. Unfortunately, he wasn't paying any attention to anything else. He didn't even have time to yelp as several clawed hands dragged him into the bushes.

A/N- so what did you think? Just kidding, Just kidding! I wouldn't leave you all there! There's more to the chapter! (PS- don't worry about Hitoshii, I wouldn't kill him! He's more fun to have around!)

"What do you want?" Hitoshii asked with a gulp, facing his captors. The girls had him backed up against a tree and surrounded on three sides.

"YOU are going to help us." Yuka grinned, hands on her hips.

'Oh no.'

Kagome was using the break as a welcome rest from watching Inuyasha's every move- which her friends had interpreted as "checking him out" and she interpreted as "checking up on him"- as well as from her friends' constant chatter.

'It's funny. I've gotten so used to hiking without all that noise, just the occasional fight, or Sango and Miroku arguing, or Shippo and Inuyasha arguing. Have I changed, or what? I almost can't stand all this noise!' She sighed and leaned back against a tree. 'Inuyasha isn't being as bad as I thought he would be. He isn't even complaining about stopping to rest! It's really odd. Why would he want to come on this trip, anyway? He could have just waited at home, then come back to get me in a week. Where is home for him, anyway? Obviously not Kaede's hut, since he seems to avoid staying there if he can. He has the tree, I suppose. But what kind of a home is that? The place where you died? That's kind of morbid. How can the place where you were betrayed and killed be 'home'?'

Kagome looked to where Inuyasha was perched on a tree limb ('as usual') across the clearing. He was looking off into, much as she had been just a few moments before. She sighed a bit as she made a decision. Standing, she walked over to the tree currently occupied by the hanyou.

"Ne, Inuyasha?" she spoke quietly as she settled herself against the base of the tree, knowing full well that he could hear every word she said.

"Hn?" was the only response, but she knew he was listening.

"You aren't having any fun on this trip, are you?"

"Keh."

"Well, at least you and Hitoshii-kun are getting along, right?"

"Why do you do that?"

Kagome was puzzled. "What do you mean, Inuyasha?"

"You add –kun to the end of every guy's name except mine and the bouzu's. Why do you do that?"

"Well..." Kagome paused, "because they're my friends, I guess. It's appropriate."

"Hn." He looked away, effectively ending the conversation.

Kagome continued to lean back against the tree in silence. A moment later, she jerked upright.

"Inuyasha!" she muttered urgently, trying not to be overheard by any of her classmates, "Did you sense that?"

"Hn." He grunted in agreement, looking intently down the trail.

"It's a demon, somewhere over there." She gestured to the road ahead.

"It's not very strong, though." He commented, relaxing again. "I'll take care of it if it causes any trouble. Enjoy your trip with your 'friends'"

Kagome was in shock. She expected him to take care of the demon, but to tell her to have a good time while he did? 'What is going on here? He's acting all weird.'

She was so absorbed in her thoughts that she missed the look of hurt that briefly flashed across his face before being covered by his usual scowl.

"Okay everyone! That's fifteen! Only another hour before we make camp for tonight, so lets get going!" Miss Nomiso yelled as she picked up her pack and began to continue down the trail.

Inuyasha hopped down from his perch, picked up "his" packs and started walking. Kagome looked after him for a moment before following after him.