Chapter 17

InuYasha congratulated himself on his cleverness. Muahahahahahah! Getting that dog from Kasumi's Pet Store...that was genius. He smiled. True, he had bumped into Kagome, but even if she did see him she wouldn't know it was him. Thanks to one of Sota's red baseball caps...yes, he looked quite ridiculous in it, but it hid his ears so he could get that dog. He was also aware the dog looked nothing like him. He didn't care he thought the dog was cute. The dog now named Hoshi. At least it made Kagome happy, so he did some good. Although, his original motivation to hide up the fact that he did the whole "scratching" thing. Houjo had it coming. He wouldn't apologize. Besides, the scratches weren't even life-threatening. Melodramatic and desperate and stupid, what a nice combination. Houjo would have a great future with the ladies. InuYasha loved the eventual, and the quite inevitable.

He didn't know what he should do next. To have the truth be told, he was bored. Not of spying on Kagome or anything but he wanted to talk with her so bad. He despised having to just watch from afar. Sighing, he sat behind a tree and just sat there doing nothing.

Meanwhile

Kagome tried to do her homework, but Hoshi wouldn't let her alone. He kept jumping up on her lap and licking her face.

"Agh! Hoshi!" She said while picking him up and placing him down on the floor.

He sat down and looked up at her with his big brown eyes, then began panting.

It is hot in here...

Kagome needed to take Hoshi outside anyway...she was not cleaning up anything. Sota would do it if he refused to help her keep Hoshi a secret. She looked down at the dog again and smiled. She liked having a dog around. It was company and reminded her of a certain someone.

"Sis..." Sota asked while knocking, "Hello?"

"Come in"

He walked in and shut the door quickly behind him, "How are we going to take him out to...y'know...."

"Maybe you shoulda thought of that" Kagome answered picking Hoshi up.

"You're not helping..."He looked thoughtful, "Do you really think Mom would get mad if we told her about him?"

She sighed, "I don't know. I'll sneak him out, okay?"

Sota nodded and Kagome heard his door open and shut. Wasn't she the lucky one getting stuck with taking him out? She went over to her closet and put on her jacket and took a ribbon from a box and tied it around Hoshi's neck then secured a knot, then took another ribbon and tied it around the first one. A homemade leash and collar.

Go me

Kagome quickly picked Hoshi back up and ran for the back door. Sure, it wasn't that stealthy but it got her there fast. Sliding the door open and shutting it quickly, she then placed Hoshi back on the ground. Kagome decided the best place to put Hoshi's...uh...feces...would be in bushes. A fertilizer at it's best.

Walking towards the most secreted area of the whole shrine Hoshi started growling. Kagome freaked out and grabbed him, saying stuff in a high pitched tone while petting him gently. The growls continued.

"Awww, what is it?" Kagome asked in that same high pitched voice, she prayed that he wouldn't bark.

Hoshi started to wiggle his way out of her arms and jumped onto the grass, he pulled Kagome closer and closer to a tree.

"Hoshi! No!"

He stopped pulling, looked at Kagome, turned back around and kept tugging.

"Hoshi!" Kagome planted her feet firmly, "I'm not moving any further."

He sat down in the grass but soon started to growl again.

"Ugh...This dog is going to Sota's room after this." Kagome stood idly, and bored, "Hoshi, come on. Do something."

A bark escaped from Hoshi and Kagome ran to him, picked him up, and ran back inside. That was way too close. She slid the door shut.

"Kagome?"

Startled she turned, "MOM?! Oh my god...uh...it's not what it looks like..."

"That's not a dog you're holding?"

Kagome smiled nervously, "No...it's a, um..."

Sota's footsteps got closer and finally he charged into the room, breathless, "Kagome isn't to blame!" He managed to get out.

They both turned to look at him.

"I found the dog yesterday and I wanted him so I kept him. Kagome walked in and saw me and Hoshi. That's his name by the way. Anyway, she saw me and Hoshi and I told her about how I found him and stuff. She said she wouldn't tell and instead she wanted to keep him. We were going to tell you once we..."

"Got up the courage" Kagome finished.

Her mom could only sigh and shake her head, "Kagome, Sota, I have no problem with you all having a dog. In fact I've always wished for you to have one, just haven't gotten to it. The only problem I do have is when the police come here. They're going to see..."

"Hoshi"

"...right. Going to see Hoshi. They'll take him away from us. You want that?" Their mom asked, genuinely concerned.

"No..." Kagome replied softly.

Her mom sighed again and said she'd talk about it later. Sota, upset, ran back into his room. Kagome stood there, dumbfounded, holding Hoshi. She looked down at the little guy.

"Everything's going to be okay Hoshi. I promise" She told him, hugging him.

Staring up at her, he began to lick her face, "Ack! Hoshi! St-" Then she began giggling, "Hoshi, seriously-" lick, "Okay, okay. Thanks for the smelly kisses, I appreciate 'em"

Then she walked back to her room, and exhausted, she collapsed on her bed.

Sure beats sleeping on the hard ground with a sleeping bag

Kagome couldn't help but think of what might or could happen, if the police found Hoshi. In one days time, she had grown to really like him. There was still one question that was really getting to her: how the hell could this little dog scratch Houjo up so badly? He was so innocent looking/acting, and it just seemed like the dog didn't fit the deed. ...But it had to be him. Oh well...

Kagome rolled over to look at her clock. She scowled at it, she knew she should go to sleep now if she wanted to wake up early enough to cram for her math test. So she turned off her lamp and pulled the covers over her. Hoshi jumped up onto the bed and nuzzled his head under Kagome's chin. She had to smile, and put her arm around him.

Hoshi scratched at Kagome's arms and whimpered. She moaned and rolled over...onto the floor.

"AGH!!!!" She yelled as she caused a loud thump, "Hoshi!"

Kagome sat up and stared at him. He was still on the bed looking down at her. He panted and his little tail wagged happily. He stuck his head out and sniffed Kagome's nose, then licked it. She laughed a little, she might have laughed more if she wouldn't have had such a rude awakening. Hoshi jumped down from the bed and walked in circles around her. She knew he had to go to the bathroom, but she didn't think it was a good idea to do it in the morning. With the bustle of people, and not to mention the sunshine, which may expose him.

"Go do your business in Sota's room" She mumbled, opening her door,
"Sota! Open your door!"

He opened it and Hoshi went running in, "Kagome! Why'd you--" he turned around to look at Hoshi, "NO! Don't do that! Not in here!"

Kagome began walking back to her room, "Sorry...by the way..."

"Thanks. Thanks a whole lot, sis."

She looked in the mirror and made a disgusted face, "Blah. Blah. Blah.", then she got ready for school.

Kagome walked into the kitchen, and was confused. Very confused.

"Kagome..." Grampa began, "Why are you in your school clothes?"

"Isn't there school?"

"Not on Sundays, my dear..."

She laughed nervously, "Yeah! I knew that! Just wanted to, uh, play a joke on ya! Didn't work though! Oh, drat!"

So she went back to her room again, and changed, again. Kagome decided she would take a little walk around town, since Houjo was clearly not in the picture now. She was safe. As soon as she walked out of the house, she wanted to go right back in.

"Hey Kagome!"

"Hey...how are you?"

Kagome tried to put on a smiling face for her friends, but she really just wanted to be alone. They never really got that.

"We're going shopping, and you're so coming!"

She almost laughed, "What? No I'm not."

"Yah. You are." They grabbed Kagome's hands and pulled her out of the shrine.

Kagome sighed, "Fine. I'll go."

All four of them strolled around doing some window shopping. Then they all came to a store that sold aromatherapy and stuff like that. Kagome was forced into the shop, and the others started to look around. Kagome sat on a yellow-cushioned bench.

"Hey Kagome, which do you like better? Vanilla or Rose?"

"Vanilla."

Her friends nodded then went over to the section with men's scents. Each of them took turns sniffing the colognes, then sharing it with the others. After about five minutes of this, they had picked out two and brought them over to her.

"Smell." One said, holding out the bottle, "You like?"

Kagome sniffed it, "It's okay..."

"Try this one."

"Hmm...the second one is better."

"Second one it is."

Kagome didn't pay much attention, instead she just stared out the window. Like she cared what scent they were buying. She did wonder about it though. Why had they got themselves cologne? She was puzzled on that one. When that was all done, her friends began walking out of town.

"Going home now?" Kagome asked, hoping it was true.

"Uh...sort of."

She continued walking with them, although all her instincts told her to just turn around and go home. She was bored. Kagome wanted so badly to just go to the Sacred Well and jump in, and forget about this place.

"Where are we going then?"

"My place."

She was about to groan in frustration, but kept it in.

"Yay." she responded.

They reached an apartment complex and all of her friends turned around and handed her the bag. She eyed them all peculiarly and then they began to slightly push her towards the door.

"What are you all doing?"

"Nothing..."

One reached forward and rang the doorbell. Kagome heard someone bustling to the door, the lock click, and then the door opened.

"Hello girls!"

"Hi. Kagome is here for a visit."

"I am?" Kagome asked quietly.

One of them whispered to Kagome, "Shutup...you know you are."

Kagome went to say something but was pushed into the house.

"Excited, are we?" The woman asked, smiling.

"Uh-huh. Lots."

"Have fun Kagome! Send Houjo our best!" One said, then they began to run away.

"Wow. Those girls are so full of energy, huh?"

"Oh my..." Kagome mumbled, "Yeah. Lots of energy, that's them."

"I'm Houjo's mom, and you're obviously Kagome. Nice to meet you."

"Same here."

Houjo's mom led Kagome through a hallway, "You are here to visit Houjo, aren't you?"

"I guess."

She looked at Kagome weirdly.

"I mean, yes. Sorry, I'm a little tired today."

Houjo's mom opened a door and there was Houjo lying in bed. He was asleep, but he seemed to be having a nightmare of some sort.

"He normally wakes up from these flashbacks in about five or ten minutes. Do you mind just staying in here?"

"No. Thanks."

Houjo's mom shut the door. Kagome sat on a chair next to Houjo's bed. He looked really bad. He had to be having a nightmare. Houjo had cold sweat upon his brow, and he kept moving his head back and forth, groaning.

"No...No!" He would say, his body then tensing up, "Don't! I'm..."

Then his body would relax again. Once again he'd become tense, saying more things.

"Dog..." He trailed off.

Oh no! I hope the police haven't interviewed him yet. Hopefully the medication will make it fuzzy for him to remember anything

"Iron...soul...", he mumbled, "Claws..."

Kagome stared down at him, "What?" she whispered.

It took him a minute to mutter something else, and Kagome listened intently.

"Ow."

That's it?...It sounded as if he was talking of InuYasha...but...it had to be his meds.

Houjo's body suddenly calmed down, and he opened his eyes slowly, "Ka-Kagome? Is that you?"

"Hi."

"What are you doing here?"

Well, I was dragged here reluctantly, if you want to hear the truth. But You'll want to hear the lie."Visiting you, of course!" she laughed, "How are you doing?"

"Ugh...Not too well, that night...it's so...messed up. I can't remember it clearly. Maybe it's all these sedatives that I'm taking or something but...I just wish I knew who or what did it to me, and why."

"I'm sure we'll find out eventually" She said trying to smile reassuringly.

He looked over at the bag she was holding, "What's that?"

Kagome looked down, she had completely forgot she was holding the cologne.

"Oh. This is, um, something I picked out for you."

"For me?" He asked, looking sort of shocked, "May I see what it is?"

Kagome held the bag out for Houjo to take. He did and peered inside. Houjo smiled.

"You shouldn't have, really."

"But I did."

Then he smelled it, "Wait, I'm glad you did! It smells really good."

"Glad to hear it." Kagome said, plastering on a fake smile.

There was a knock at the door, then it opened, "Houjo. It's time for your medicine."

"Okay mom." He replied sitting up, he was shirtless and his body was scarred, the scratches looked so familiar...

"I gotta go" Kagome told them both, "See you when you get better. So um, get better!"

She ran out of the house, she needed to get home. Hoshi could not have done all of that. It just wasn't possible. There were other options though. Some other dog had been on the property that night, maybe that was it. Then there was the one that worried her: InuYasha. Then Kagome became confused, why would he just randomly scratch up Houjo? He wouldn't. She knew that much about his nature. So next Kagome was completely lost. Nothing fit what had happened.

Walking through the town she had one thought that kept bugging her. The InuYasha thought. She decided to put it in the back of her mind. She would go to Feudal Times and see that everything was perfectly fine. InuYasha would be there, so would Sango and Miroku, and it would prove that InuYasha did not do the "scratching", which was the word for the event now.

As she got to the shrine she went inside and ran to her room to grab a jewel shard, then hurriedly ran back out to the well.

"Bye Tokyo." Kagome announced before jumping over the ledge, then she plunged into the darkness.

"Umph!" Kagome grunted as she got out of the well.

"Kagome?"

"Hey guys!" she yelled happily, and then ran over to Miroku, Sango, Shippo and...no InuYasha.

"Where have you been?" Miroku asked.

"In my time just trying to catch up with schoolwork, and my family and stuff like that."

"We're so glad you're back!" Sango said happily.

"Me too...Um, where is InuYasha?"

Miroku spoke before Sango could, "He went to fight a demon with Kouga. Isn't it nice how they worked things out? Without you gone, there were no petty fights between them!"

"Oh. I got worried that he might have came to my time. There was a boy who got scratched up pretty bad at the shrine...I thought InuYasha might have been behind it."

"Nope. He's been here the whole time." Miroku replied.

Sango looked over at Miroku, then back at Kagome, "Yup. Been busy exterminating demons."

"Now that my fear is put to rest..." She looked back at the well, "I'm really sorry this was such a short visit. I have a test to study for, so I need to get going. I'm really sorry again."

They nodded understandingly, then Miroku spoke, "When should you be back?"

"Week. Probably."

"Ah. Well, good luck."

Kagome walked over to the well, and once again jumped into it's darkness.