Disclaimer: The characters of Inuyasha are owned by Rumiko Takahashi, but this story belongs to me.
Chapter Two: Unwanted Declarations of Love
September 22nd
There is a phrase about best laid plans going to Heck in a hand basket, if Kagome hadn't been fifteen minutes late getting up (Thanks a LOT for turning off the alarm clock, Souta, you brat!) she probably would have been able to correctly quote that particular phrase instead of chanting swear words as she raced getting dressed.
After clunking her little brother on the head with her backpack, Kagome shoved a piece of toast in her mouth and ran out the door. As she ran she clumsily braided her hair and tied it, rather lopsidedly, with a green ribbon that almost matched her school uniform. One of these days, she promised herself, I'll actually get up in time to sit down and have breakfast.
Her feet pounded against the pavement and her lungs began to burn. Man, I'm soooo out of shape. Maybe I should quit skipping gym… I mean, how many fake illness excuses are they really going to buy anyhow? Dashing up the stairs of the school building she threw open the doors and raced past the few loitering students in the hallway. She dodged other scurrying bodies, skidding a bit as she took the corner a bit too sharply, and finally leaping through the slowly closing door.
Luckily she didn't collapse into a heap until she reached her chair. She chose to ignore the chuckles and smart aleck remarks… and that was just from the teacher.
"So glad you could join us today, Higurashi."
Perhaps if Kagome wasn't so busy sucking in air desperately she might have had a sarcastic comeback or even a polite reply. As it was, however, she was lucky to get out any sort of audible sound other than gasping for air. A wave of the hand would just have to do.
Just when Kagome thought her day couldn't get worse, her story was read aloud to the class. Quietly she banged her head against her desk. She stopped when she felt something bounce of her head and land in front of her. It was a piece of paper folded into a heart. Kagome sighed, no signature was needed, there is only one person she knew who would spend so much time folding a note… Hojo.
GREAT STORY HIGURASHI! I AM VERY IMPRESSED WITH YOUR TALENT. PERHAPS YOU WOULD HELP ME WITH MY WRITING FOR THE NEXT ASSIGNMENT?
- HOJO
All that work folding for three short sentences. Kagome rolled her eyes as her friend Eri snickered at the heart shaped note. Not wanting to get caught… again… passing notes in class, Kagome hid the note under her book and glanced down at the words. It irritated her how perfect his handwriting was. He wasn't one of those boys who scribbled and scrawled their name, or even wrote in all capital letters like some of the other boys. Nope, not Hojo. Every letter was nice, neat, and utterly perfect. Oh well, at least he didn't do bubble letters like Eri. They may be cute, but they sure can be hard to read.
Kagome scribbled down one word, sure, then folded the note haphazardly. She stretched in what she hoped was a nonchalant manner, adding a slight yawn for effect, and dropped the note behind her head to fall on Hojo's desk.
Hojo had been her friend since Kindergarten. He was sweet and good natured, and always, and I mean ALWAYS, had a positive attitude. In her freshman year of high school Kagome thought that she might be in love with her friend. They had gone on one date that year. That's when she knew that she only had friendly feelings for him, there was only the love one friend feels for another. Things had been awkward for a few weeks after their date, but they had agreed to be just friends and things got back to normal. They did homework together, and he often came to hang out with her and her three female friends on their WacDonald's Wednesday.
Amazingly enough, the rest of the day went by without too many problems, we'll not talk about the exploding cake incident in Home Economics… that's just better off forgotten. Kagome walks with Eri and Hojo to WacDonald's where they met up with Yuka and Arimi. After ordering their totally unhealthy yet very tasty meal of fried food, they found a table and sat down to eat.
Hojo began talking about a new movie that was showing at the theater. Kagome only half listened as she watched the other three girls devour their meals and shakes as if the food would leap off the plate and run off if they didn't gulp it down. After a few minutes they popped up out of their seats.
"I have to go shopping for my mom!" Eri explained with a smile.
"I have to baby-sit my cousin!" grinned Yuka as she grabbed her purse.
"I have to… uh…" Arimi thought for a minute, "I have to go!"
Kagome's eyes narrowed as her three friends bolted out of the door, giggling like crazy hyenas. They set me up! she grumbled irritably. I've told them HUNDREDS of times that Hojo and I are JUST friends! She focused on Hojo and opened her mouth to apologize to him when she was startled into silence. He had reached across the table and took her hand in his.
"Kagome… I love you."
"Uh….."
"I know you said we were just friends, but I love you."
"Hojo…." She said sadly as she tried to pull her hand away.
"Don't worry Kagome, I know you don't feel the same way. But I just thought you should know." He squeezed her hand before releasing it. Then he patted it as he let it go and got up from the table. "I'll see you in school tomorrow!"
Kagome looked at her french fries in misery. She hated hurting him.
