Sorry! I've been uber busy! I still haven't bought my school supplies and I'm starting school sooooooooooon. In any case, here's the next chapter! And yes, since a couple of you have asked this, I read every single review. sends them to my e-mail account and I check my e-mail like fifty times a day for new reviews. I'll be hanging out with friends and put them on hold to check my e-mail. I'll stay online until one in the morning hitting the refresh button on my hotmail account! (This is true, I've done it before) I absolutely ADORE reading my reviews. Knowing what people like and don't like and how they think I should improve or their guesses to the plot or anything just makes me happy. I even go to the site and re read reviews sometimes just for kicks. And usually when I do that, I feel so guilty I have to update. So yes, if you want the short answer, I read every review. Thank you so much for sending them you guys! You have no idea how much I look forward to them! (Though now you might have a start . . . ) In any case, I hope you enjoy this chapter AND the fun new twist!

If there was one thing there was absolutely no way she would ever do, it was knock on his door. She'd already conquered that urge the day before and if anything, her will should have gotten stronger. However, that didn't stop her feet from walking there after school and it certainly didn't do anything to slow her hand as it raised and formed into a fist of its own accord.

Thankfully, she had enough self control left to keep from actually making contact with the door. Of course, if anyone walked by, she'd look really stupid, standing there with one hand raised, poised to knock, but an expression of intense concentration on her face as she visibly kept her body still. But since she's Kagome Higurashi and her life can't seem to do anything but suck, no one needed to walk by. Inuyasha opened the door.

She would have frozen if she hadn't been standing still already. He didn't even seemed surprised, treating her with the same stupid indifference he'd shown her all day. She'd exaggerated when she'd told Sango he was mad. He was just so frickin nonchalant that it was easier to say he was angry so she could get mad right back at him. Of course, it didn't faze him at all.

Stupid prick.

"Is there something you need?" Indifference. Frickin annoying pathetic dumb stupid prick. She didn't say anything. She was positively fuming inside and wasn't sure anything that came out of her mouth would be something nice girls would say. That, or she'd blurt out the truth and she'd worked too hard and suffered too much to screw that up now.

After the pause, Inuyasha sighed and stepped back, half heartedly inviting her into his room. "If you're struck dumb by the sight of me, just say so."

"Idiot." She muttered, closing the door behind her and sitting cross legged on the end of his bed. Absently she began to play with the end of the blanket, as if the design interested her more then the person she'd come to see. "If I were struck dumb, how could I say so?"

"Since you didn't say so, does that mean you were?" He asked, with a shadow of his usual smirk. He was walking on eggshells around her. She hadn't realized how wonderfully normal he'd treated her until he started acting like she was a stranger. In all honesty, she was a stranger, but at least they'd been on speaking terms before. Now it was like she was some kind of bad example and he didn't want to get too involved with her.

"You wish." She muttered, looking up to find him standing right in front of her. "This is the first time you talked to me today." She told him bluntly. He had the nerve to think back. A part of her realized he hadn't really done anything wrong or overly cruel but she was just so annoyed that her one kind of ally wasn't treating her normal anymore that she couldn't judge him fairly.

"Yeah." He said finally, after a second's deliberation. "I guess it is." His voice was noncommittal. "Doesn't that make you happy? It's not like we were friends." He wasn't trying to be cruel, he was just stating facts, but it still hurt. It hurt a lot.

"Of course it doesn't make me happy!" She exploded, never having been the kind of person who could discuss things calmly, much less rationally. "You're the only person I can talk to as me at all, and now that I'm succeeding at this stupid 'get Kouga to fall for you' plan, which let me remind you was your idea, you're not speaking to me!" She stopped, and took a deep breath. "Did I miss a memo or something? Because I thought I was doing what you wanted me to."

"Don't be stupid." Well, now she didn't feel bad about yelling at him. He was just as rude as she could ever hope to be. "Of course I'm not angry you're spending time with Kouga. I'm actually looking forward to his face when you dump him."

"Then why?" She asked him, her voice quieter then it had been before but still above normal speaking volume. "Why are you acting like we don't even know each other?" She pressed on, not entirely agreeing with what she was saying. "You should at least treat me like your sister or the entire plan is screwed."

"I am treating you like my sister." He scowled. "Kikyo and I never talk at school, hardly even at home for that matter." She glared up at him, refusing to let her expression show any other emotion. He softened somewhat, though his face still scowled mercilessly. "Do you have anything else to say?" She continued glaring.

"Because if not, I want to get back the music you so rudely interrupted me from." He passed her, and hit the play button on the stereo next to his bed. She instantly recognized both the melody and lyrics and her heart ached as she remembered just how long it had been since she'd listened to Ruthless. "You can stay if you want." He added. "Since I know you'll just bug me about it anyway." He shot her a dirty look, but she was unfazed.

Contentedly, she stretched on her stomach across the bed, making sure to leave enough room for him. She never realized that he'd accused her of interrupting him, when he'd been the one to open the door.

For his part, he was just glad he hadn't needed to be the one to look stupid so they could make up.

Kikyo had been surprised at how easy it was to convince Hojo not to tell anyone their secret. She probably shouldn't have been, the dope was half way in love with Kagome so of course he'd never do anything to disappoint her. And the best part?

She'd never have to listen to another one of his insanely long lectures again!

With no explanation to her whatsoever (he'd been decidedly less polite once he'd realized that she wasn't the real Kagome.) he quit. Half heartedly, she'd asked him why, but he refused to give even a hint. Content with the fact that he was leaving, she didn't bother pushing it, even backing him up later that night when he'd called her father to let him no. Apparently, with her approval and promise to be nice to whoever her dad sent to replace him was enough to release Hojo from having to provide two weeks notice and he'd left that very day.

Now she was stuck with Mr. Myoga, a short little flea of a man who had a nasally voice and a bald head. She should have kept her cover with Hojo.

"And now, Miss Kagome." Ugh, didn't he ever blow his nose? "Do you want me to read aloud from the text or will you absorb it better if I let you read silently?" His face contorted on the word 'absorb' as if he couldn't breathe at all while saying it.

"I'll read silently." She assured him hastily, not even sure what she was supposed to be reading. How was she supposed to learn with him? She couldn't help but pay more attention to his voice, the way he barely reached above the desk and the shine off of his head dancing along the wall than to anything he might actually try and teach.

Well, at least it was Kagome's grades she'd be screwing up, not her own.

Two days in a row? That had to be a record. Usually he allowed a break between visits, proving to her again and again how little he valued her. Not that she cared, but the reminder was less then flattering. He was really early this time; none of his fan club had arrived yet.

"You're at school early." She commented, refusing to allude to the consecutive visit. If he brought it up, let him. If not, then she'd live. Not knowing was better than having him know that she noticed.

He shrugged, sliding into the seat next to her at an angle so he could prop his feet up on the lower bar of her desk. "I had to clear out fast this morning, or run the risk of being forced to eat my dear old dad's cooking." She knew, as did most of the student population, that his mother had died a couple years before, and the father had never completely mastered the skills of single parenthood.

"Why was today so special?" She asked. "He doesn't usually fix you breakfast." That was a fact, or else he'd be early to school every day. With no one in the classroom, it was easier to talk with him. She wasn't getting sent death glares by every female in sight and no one was there to interrupt them.

"Because," He said, almost proudly. "Today is my birthday." He grinned wickedly at her. "One guess as to what I want for my birthday, now that I'm officially an adult." He gave her an appreciative, but not too hopeful look.

"Oh no." She told him, grinning herself. "I'm officially jailbait now, so don't be getting any ideas." His face completely fell and she couldn't help but laugh. Miroku's face was so expressive. Even when he was faking an emotion, he did it with such intensity that you got pulled along with him. It was fun, if not a little infuriating.

"And after our conversation yesterday, I was really looking forward to seeing you again." He snapped his fingers in mock disappointment. It took her a second to register what he meant, and when she did her face flamed. He exulted.

"You're a sick man." She muttered, letting her head fall to her desk and wrapping her arms around it in an effort to hide her embarrassment. "That was a spur of the moment form of revenge." She informed him, her voice muffled. "Don't read anything into it."

"Would I do that?" He asked, making his voice as innocent and unassuming as possible. Her head shot up, and her expression became sardonic.

"Yes." She answered shortly, no elaboration needed. His reputation preceded him.

"Alright," he conceded. "But you can't blame a guy for trying, right?" Of course, with her reputation, she could, and probably did in his case. The wry look she sent him was assurance enough of that. He found himself grinning stupidly at her, like a nerdy little kid instead of the suave charmer he was supposed to be. "Being jailbait is going to be your excuse from now on, isn't it?"

"Probably." She answered lightly, trying to get over the look he'd just given her. For a second, she'd almost lost herself. "Not that I'm running out of excuses or anything." He was too popular, not worth the hassle, made her feel to insecure, and was too much of an all around flirt. Of course, she'd never have the guts to voice those objections.

"Your latest is only good for five more months." He warned her. "So you better have some ready or you'll be completely at my mercy." He seemed to daze off for a bit, please at the mental image accompanying that sentence. The act distracted her from the fact that he knew when her birthday was.

She kicked him. Hard. "Watch it Miroku." Her voice was venom, but her neck was coloring and the crimson shade was starting to spread up to her face. "Jailbait or not, I can still take you."

He raised an eyebrow at that. "Name the time and place, Sango." Her cheeks burned. She kicked him again, unable to think of an adequate response. Violence expressed her feelings so much more accurately than words could ever hope to. Miroku laughed, not even feeling the already forming bruise on his leg. He'd call it a purple badge of courage later, adding it to his collection.

"How do you come up with this stuff?" She demanded, trying to mask her blush with forthrightness. "Is there some kind of manual? Perverted conversations for dummies? How to be a player, and all that that implies? Seriously, someone has to write your stuff."

"Nope!" He happily enlightened her. "I make it all up on my own. Of course," He added, giving her a nod. "Special thanks should go out to my inspiration. I owe all my quick wit to you." He flashed her one of his 'charming' smiles.

"Oh please." She groaned. "Don't put that on me. I'd like to be proud of my accomplishments, thank you very much. Anyways," she continued. "What are you doing to celebrate?" His smile grew even bigger and she held up a hand to stop him. "Never mind," she ordered. "I don't want to know."

"I do!" A voice came from behind them, young, female, and totally interested. "Is there anything I can do to help, Miroku?" It was Yumi, another one of his fans. Sango wasn't even sure she was in her class, but his followers seemed to have a radar, finding him with ease no matter where he was.

"The more the merrier." Miroku gave her the fake, plastic smile that made girls swooned, and she giggled at the insinuation in his words. Sango reddened, even though he wasn't talking to her, and he found himself staring at her from the corner of his eye while Yumi tried to hang on to his attention.

"Well then," Her voice was low. "Count me in." She grabbed him by the arm, effectively forcing him to stand. "Come with me, some of the girls and I have a surprise planned for your birthday."

He shrugged her off and started to follow, feigning enthusiasm. He couldn't help but look back at Sango before leaving the room, and was surprised to find her staring back at him. 'Happy birthday' she mouthed, giving him a little wave with only her fingers. He grinned, his whole face lighting up, and gave her a salute. Reluctantly, he turned to follow Yumi to the rest of the girls, forcing himself to remove his goofy grin before any of them saw him.

Kagome rushed into class, seconds from being late again for the third time that week. Sango couldn't help but laugh as she launched through the doorway and sprinted for her seat.

"I'm not late!" She exclaimed, setting her backpack on her desk and sliding into her chair. "My stupid brother," she continued, running a hand through her hair, "insisted on buying silly string and some other lame products on the way to school." She shook her head. "And when I asked him why, he'd just," she paused, letting the anticipation build, "smirk." The way she'd said it prompted a rather accurate visual.

Sango snickered. She could guess one or two reasons why today of all days Inuyasha would buy the right materials to mob someone. She was about to enlighten Kagome when the door opened and the teacher stepped in. "Oh!" She said instead. "We have a sub today!" Her face positively glowed. Mrs. Okamoto was not valued highly among her students.

Kagome turned to look, but knocked her bag to the floor in the process and had to bend over to pick it up. "Class." There was something vaguely familiar about that voice. "I regret to inform you that Mrs. Okamoto is taking a leave of sickness for an undefined period of time. Meanwhile, I will be teaching this class in her stead." She knew that voice.

"My name is Mr. Takaido." She stared at her fallen backpack, hand still outstretched, not wanting to look up.

"But you can call me Hojo."

Sango had to think she was weird. When their new 'sub' for history had introduced himself she'd nearly screamed. She'd managed to pass it off as some kind of mutilated cough but that hadn't lessened the strangeness of it. She hadn't been able to pay attention the whole lesson, and when he'd called on her, she hadn't even known what the question was. Both times!

The rest of the day was almost a blur. She watched the halls during class, wondering if he'd walk by. She kept an eye out for him at lunch, completely ignoring poor Kouga when he said hi to her. And just now she'd ditched Sango, who'd wanted to study in the library together, making some excuse about Inuyasha wanting to talk to her because she would die if she had to go a second longer without confronting him. School was out and nothing was going to stop her.

She practically ran across the school, not slowing until she reached his classroom. She didn't knock, just opened the door and stalked right in. He was sitting calmly at his desk, going over notes for several of his new classes. "Hi Hojo." Her voice was deceptively calm.

"Kagome!" His face lit up. In her old life, she would have taken pity on him and forgiven him whatever he had done when he made a face like that. He always seemed to come across as so innocent. Right now, she could care less.

"Why are you here?" She didn't bother making the question come out polite. She practically shouted it, stomping closer until she was right in front of him. She slammed one hand, palm down, against the desk, demanding his immediate honesty. She didn't care if she came across as having a temper tantrum, right then, she couldn't have controlled herself if she'd tried.

"Kagome," his voice was serious, and his features took on a look of concern. "I was worried about you." He must have seen the look on her face because he hastily continued. "You have bodyguards for a reason. There are people out there who will try to come after you if they get the chance. You of all people should realize exactly what you're risking with this little rebellious stint of yours." He looked her in the eye. "I never thought you would do something so stupid."

She stepped back, stung. "I'm the only one who frickin knows what I'm risking! If anyone has the right to decide my life, it's me." She glared at him. "If you think I'm so stupid why didn't you run along and tell my father?" She spat the words venomously.

"I'm not going to tell on you, Kagome." He assured her, softening. This was the Hojo she remembered, the one who was careful not to make her too mad. "I was just worried. Which is why," he continued briskly, "I'm here."

Huh? She wasn't following. "What? I don't get it." He was smiling now, the type of smile people use when they think they've figured out something incredibly clever and already enacted it without checking with you. It was proud. She had a bad feeling about that smile.

"I'm going to protect you." He spoke with an air of assurance. "Somebody has to, and I'm the only one who can." He smiled at her, the picture of benevolence. "Mrs. Okamoto will be sick until you're ready to go home." He caught her look and answered her unasked question. "She . . . ate something that didn't agree with her. It could happen to anyone."

"You poisoned my teacher?" She didn't know what shocked her more, that he was trying to protect her, or that his first act as her self-appointed bodyguard was to poison Mrs. Okamoto.

"Of course not." He looked insulted. "I just put a little bit of something in there that would make her ill enough she couldn't trust herself to attend classes." Her sarcastic look was entirely wasted on him. "In any case," he continued. "I'm going to be keeping an eye on you from now on. I don't want anything to happen to you."

He looked so sincere, so genuinely concerned for her well being that she was almost able to quell the dread growing within her. Almost.

And then she heard Inuyasha.

"There you are! Where have you been? I need to get you home fast, Miroku and I are going out." He sounded annoyed, but not mad. He walked over to her and grabbed her by the arm, ready to pull her with him, when the tenseness of the atmosphere suddenly seemed to hit him. "What's going on?"

Kagome just shook her head, almost under the impression that if she didn't speak, it wouldn't be happening. Hojo took it upon himself to perform the introductions. "You must be Inuyasha!" He smiled innocently. "Kagome's new brother! I'm her old teacher," he paused. Kagome was positive that the silence before he announced his name was only to torture her. "I'm Hojo."

It only took a second to register. Inuyasha's eyes widened and he couldn't seem to decide which of the two to stare at. "That Hojo?"

Kagome closed her eyes and kept shaking her head, praying the ground would just open and swallow her up.

SO! Ho many of you guessed that? Huh? Huh? Huh? None right! Wasn't that surprising! I really hope it wasn't at all predictable, I tried to be shocking. And isn't this just great! She's finally made up with Inuyasha but now her so called ex 'lover' is her new teacher! And self-appointed bodyguard!

More S/M will come though they are a side story. I have a twist involved with that though that should be coming up in the next couple chapters. Right now they're tentative friends who mess with each other. Well, more like he messes with her and she beats him up. The usual.

More Kouga will com up too. Goodness, he wasn't in this chapter at ALL was he? I didn't mean to do that, it just happened. I have an outline written now though so I shouldn't have to brainstorm as long. Though this chapter didn't follow the outline exactly . . . In any case, it will get better.

Dude you guys, what if I would have ended it when Hojo announced his name the first time! I was SO tempted to! But then I figured it'd be a tad short so I made it just a little longer. Next chapter will include some Inu Kag bonding FINALLY. But let me stress, bonding, NOT fluff. I'm really sorry to those of you who are so anxious but they're not in love yet! They can't possibly be! They've only known each other like a week, and they haven't covered the biggest issues yet. Like her past and his feud with Kouga.

Anyways, as always, I'm totally DYING to know what you guys think and have to say, so please indulge my addiction and review? I'm not begging, just um . . . suggesting.

-Rogue Pryde