Disclaimer: You all know what it is...I don't own Inu-Yasha or any of the characters in the story. Sad but true, I'm afraid... crosses fingers hopefully

NEXT CHAPTER – Siamese Twins

The next day, I discovered that Kikyo was actually happy, much to my surprise. She appeared to be grinning and showing off her hideous braces willingly. I knew she was plotting something. What else could make her crack such a large smile?

It didn't take me long to hear the news. Rumors spread faster than jelly being put on a sandwich at our school, and it didn't take me long to put two and two together. Here are the rumors I heard:

"Kikyo is going to marry Hojo tomorrow!"

"Hojo asked Kikyo to a fancy, really expensive restaurant this morning."

I knew from these wild rumors that Kikyo was, oddly enough, dating Hojo. I sighed. Poor Hojo. Then I laughed to myself and reconsidered. No…poor Kikyo. I smirked slightly.

That night, not surprisingly, quick-to-date Kikyo invited Hojo to our house. She prepared gleefully, putting on a deceiving pink dress. Yuck. I stuck out my tongue behind her back. She had no sense of style. How could Hojo date her?

A few minutes before Hojo was arriving, Kikyo thrust me against the wall and hissed, "Listen up, Kagome. If you do anything to make me mad, including giving me a smug little smile, I will give you a beating you'll never forget. Got it, you little twit?"

With my teeth tightly fastened together so I wouldn't retort with a rude remark, I nodded. My fists were clenched. Damn Kikyo! I hated her!

Then I felt sort of bad. Sisters weren't supposed to hate each other, but what else did Kikyo invite me to do? She wasn't exactly caring herself. I wondered if she even loved me. It was definitely something to think about. Anyway, out of my dark emotional thoughts and back to the story…

Hojo came exactly at the right time, believe it or not. He practically got down and bowed before Kikyo, since he worshipped her so much. The sight made me sick to my stomach. It was a little funny, though, because Hojo had braces too. (That's the only reason they were dating, and I knew it.)

Anyway, here's how the date went: Hojo arrives. He brings flowers. Roses. Kikyo gives him her fake, 'Oh, they're wonderful!' act and then behind his back throws them out the window. Mom, Dad, and I wait in the kitchen with our wonderfully prepared meal. Hojo enjoys it. Kikyo smiles and gives him her kiss-me-now-I'm-innocent look. He falls for it and follows her out to our front yard where they both prepare to make out.

Wait a minute! Something felt wrong, but I couldn't put my finger on precisely what it may be… Then it hit me. They both wore braces—and they were kissing! I rushed outside to warn them, but it was too late. They were liplocked. And, they were struggling to get apart, but their braces had gotten tangled together. I tried not to laugh. Kikyo pushed Hojo away, which hurt both of them since they were stuck together at the mouth by their braces.

Mom came out hurriedly and rushed them straight to the orthodontist's office. I had to go along too, which didn't turn out too badly in the end.

When he saw them, the orthodontist frowned and stroked his mustache. What he said I will laugh at forever: "Sorry, we don't do Siamese twins."

I snickered and busted up laughing. He thought Hojo and Kikyo were Siamese twins, joined at the mouth! And when Mom tried explaining that to the hare-brained orthodontist, I laughed even harder. I didn't care that I would receive a harsh beating from Kikyo when I got home; I was too humored by the whole situation. Then again, who wouldn't be?

Poor, miserable Hojo. He did look extremely miserable. I felt a little bad for him as they were prying apart the stuck braces. He didn't look too happy. Then again, he was the airhead who agreed to kiss Kikyo despite the fact that they both wore braces. It was his problem.

It was no surprise when the Siamese twins story was spreading around the school faster than a wildfire. Kikyo was furious. She slammed me into my locker half a dozen times that day, a preview of what would come later. She was especially mad when she caught me spying on her next to the girls' bathroom as she was with Hojo. This is what I heard them say:

Hojo: "Sorry, Kikyo, but things got off to a bad start last night. They didn't quite work out."

Kikyo (sweetly): "I know. It'll go better next time, though, won't it?"

Hojo (awkwardly): "Er…well, that's what I wanted to talk about. There won't be a next time. I'm dumping you."

There was a long silence. I was surprised at Hojo's courage. After all, the three things you never said to Kikyo were 1. You're ugly, 2. braceface, or 3. I'm dumping you. Hojo might as well have been a dead man walking with what he had told Kikyo. Anyway…

Kikyo: (loudly) :WHAAAAAAAT!"

Hojo: "I—I'm sorry it had to end this way, K—Kikyo. Um…better go then."

He hurried away from the mad Kikyo. That was when Kikyo spotted me and used me as her temporary punching bag to relieve her anger. As a result, I had a fresh black eye and a bloody lip. I sighed, knowing that I had to learn how to defend myself. But who could teach me? I wondered. That "teacher" was coming sooner than I expected…and his name was Inu-Yasha.

Author's Note: Please review! I know the chapters are a little (okay, more than a little) short, and maybe I'll make them longer next time. And yes, I know Kagome is pathetically weak right now. But not for long! Now when… drum roll please … Inu-Yasha enters the story (finally)! Sorry that it took so long. Anywho, in the next chapter, there will be plenty going on as Kikyo, devilicious as ever, tries to date Inu-Yasha, the new student using a roller-skating scheme. Find out later!

Devilicious is not an actual word as far as I know. You won't find it in any dictionary or thesaurus.