Chapter 5: His Past

The next day was even colder and more miserable then the day before and a thick fog hung in the air. Kagome dressed in jeans and a long sleeve red shirt with a jean jacket over top.

When she entered the school she was immediately met by Miroku.

"Hey Kagome!" he said as he walked with her.

"Hey Miroku, what are you doing here? You never get here this early," Kagome asked.

Miroku scratched his head, "Well…I, uh…I decided that….because of the weather…I would come early!"

Kagome eyed him cautiously…what was he planning?

Just then Naraku and two girls walked passed them. One of the girls was very short and had stark white hair and an expressionless face. The other girl glared at anyone that passed with her red eyes. They were both demons.

Kagome noticed that Miroku tensed and stepped in front of her a bit, almost as if he was shielding her from Naraku.

As soon as they passed Kagome spun Miroku around.

"What was that about?" she asked.

Miroku looked panicked, "What do you mean?"

Kagome sighed, "Inuyasha told you didn't he?"

He sighed, "Yes."

"Let me guess…he wanted you to come to school early so you could protect me?" Kagome hissed.

"Just until he got here," Miroku pointed down the hall.

Kagome turned to see Inuyasha walking toward them. He was wearing a blue shirt and dark jeans, and his ears were twitching as if he was watching out for someone.

Kagome spun on her heel and walked off in the opposite direction of the boys.

"Kagome! Wait! Come back!" Miroku yelled after her.

Ignoring him she went around the corner and then pressed up against the wall. Sure enough, Inuyasha came tearing around the corner a second later. Kagome grabbed him by his shirt collar and stopped him.

When he came eye to eye with her, he flushed, "Oh…h-hi Kagome!"

"I appreciate the thought Inuyasha, but I don't need you to protect me!" Kagome said.

Inuyasha blushed even redder, "I don't know what you're talking about Kagome, I was just-"

"Just forget it," Kagome said and walked off to first period.

Classes went by extremely fast, which was a relief, and Kagome didn't see Naraku for the rest of the day… which was even more of a relief.

At lunch time Kagome made the excuse that she had to do homework, and she confined herself to the library. Although no one bothered her, she could sense Inuyasha's aura close to the library at all time. It made her furious that he thought she couldn't take care of herself!

After school had ended Kagome rushed out of the gym's change rooms to find Sango.

"Hey Sango, do you want to come over?" she asked when she found her getting a drink.

"I'm sorry Kagome, I would love to but I have practice today, remember?"

"Oh, I totally forgot!" Kagome slapped her forehead, "Never mind then."

Walking out to her car she got in and started the engine.

It didn't work.

She tried three more times before she gave up and rested her head on the steering wheel.

"What am I going to do?" she mumbled, "Oh shit! I forgot my cell phone at home!"

She looked around the parking lot, but it was empty.

Sighing, Kagome got out of the car and started to walk home.

The rain had at least stopped, but an unpleasant wind chilled her and she walked.

She was about three blocks from her house when Kagome turned and noticed a park.

"Why haven't I notice this place before?" she asked herself.

It was beautiful. There was a little pond in the center and cherry blossom trees that hid a small walkway. As Kagome walked down it she breathed in the scent of the flowers.

She found a bench a little ways down and took a seat, admiring the fog covered pond.

"Kagome?" a voice said from behind her.

She turned to see Inuyasha standing there, the wind blowing through his long hair.

"Oh, hi Inuyasha," she smiled softly and motioned for him to sit down beside her.

He did and they sat in silence for a while, just looking at the pond.

"What are you doing here Inuyasha?" Kagome asked after a while.

"I saw your abandoned car and followed your scent here," he said.

"My scent?" Kagome smiled, "What do I smell like?"

Inuyasha blushed, "I don't know…stop asking stupid questions."

"My car broke down so I decided to walk home," she changed the subject.

"Oh yeah? Where's your house? I could give you a ride you know," he said.

"I live in the old shrine a few blocks from here, but I don't need a ride. I think I'll stay out here a little bit longer. It's nice here," she smiled.

"Feh, it's cold," he shivered.

Kagome sat there for a little bit longer, expecting Inuyasha to leave, but he didn't move. After a while Kagome looked at her watch and stood up.

"I should probably go now," she said, "Thanks for sitting with me Inuyasha."

He stood up but didn't answer, "Are you hungry?"

Kagome paused and looked at him. What kind of question was that? But she was a little bit hungry…

"A little bit I guess…" she said.

Inuyasha seemed uncomfortable, "Do you want to get something to eat?…just as friends, you know?"

For some reason Kagome's heart sped up a bit and she smiled, "Sure. I know a good ramen place if you want."

Inuyasha immediately brightened up at the word 'ramen'.

He nodded, "Sounds good."

They walked back to his car, a red jeep.

"You like red don't you?" Kagome laughed.

"Yeah, so?"

"Oh nothing."

They drove in silence and when they pulled into the parking lot Kagome found herself getting nervous.

Why am I so nervous? She thought, we are just getting food as friends…that's all.

They were hit with nice warm air when they entered the shop and Inuyasha got a very dreamy look on his face when he inhaled the smell of fresh ramen. As soon as they sat at a table a short, elderly woman approached them with a pen and paper.

"What can I get for you?" she smiled.

Inuyasha looked confused. There was no menus.

"Can we get two ramen, one small and one large," Kagome smiled.

The woman nodded and went to get their food. When she came back she had a large bowl of noodles that she put in front of Inuyasha and a small one for Kagome. Then she placed a plate of sauces in between them.

"Enjoy," she said.

"Thanks," Inuyasha said, not taking his eyes off the bowl, "Hey Kagome, what am I supposed to do with it? It doesn't smell like anything."

"Pick one of the sauces and then mix it in with the noodles," Kagome said as she chose the shrimp flavoring and mixed it in.

Inuyasha seemed to have a lot of trouble picking a flavor. After a few minutes he decided on the miso flavoring. Kagome almost laughed when he took a bite. He looked like he was in heaven…

"You like it?" Kagome asked.

He nodded vigorously, "I'm coming here all of the time!"

Kagome laughed.

They ate in silence and Inuyasha ordered two more bowls of soup. Kagome was already finished hers so she watched him eat.

When he was done his third bowl he set down his chopsticks and looked at Kagome.

"Hey Kagome…about what you said yesterday…about your old school…I'm sorry that had to happen to you," he said softly.

Kagome nodded, "Thank you Inuyasha."

He seemed uncomfortable.

"What's wrong Inuyasha?"

"When I heard you tell us that, I guess I kind of related to it," he whispered.

"What do you mean?"

He sighed, "When I was younger, kids made fun of me too…they would call me half breed and dirty blood too. I hate being a half demon because I don't get accepted by either humans or demons."

Kagome just sat there and listened.

"My father was a demon, and my mother was a human. My mother wasn't my father's first wife though. He had been married to a demon woman before and they had Sesshomaru. So I guess he's kind of like my half brother…I think he hates me more than anyone. When my mom and dad died me and Sesshomaru were sent to live with Sesshomaru's mom. She doesn't like me much either. So I know how it feels…to be picked on for being different. I know how it feels to hate yourself because you're different."

Kagome's eyes widen. He felt like that too? Kagome had never told anyone…but when the other kids started picking on her, she hated herself and wanted nothing more then to be a normal human like the rest of her family…

Without thinking Kagome reached across the table and grasped Inuyasha's hand.

He looked up at her, surprised, but grasped her hand as well.

"I'm sorry Inuyasha. I wish it wasn't like that for you…I can blend in, but you are different wherever you go," Kagome whispered, "But I want you to know that I don't care if you're a half demon. And neither does Miroku or Sango, we like you just the way you are…"

Inuyasha nodded and they just looked at each other for a while.

"I should get you home," Inuyasha said after a while and they both stood up.

Inuyasha paid for the meal even though Kagome had insisted that she at least pay for her own.

When they pulled into her driveway, Kagome's came running out of the house.

"Kagome dear, where is your car?" she asked.

"It's back at the school mom, it broke down," Kagome turned to Inuyasha, "Inuyasha and me stopped to eat something and then he gave me a ride home."

Kagome's mom smiled up at Inuyasha who looked uncomfortable.

"Thank you Inuyasha," she said.

"Don't worry about it Mrs. Higurashi," he flushed.

"Oh! I recognize you now!" she exclaimed, "You're the boy that called last night, wondering where Kagome was! That was very sweet of you, I'm glade my Kagome has such good friends. Won't you join us for dinner tomorrow night?"

Inuyasha flushed even more as Kagome sent him a questioning glance.

So it was him that had called…

"Um…well…I-"

"Come on Inuyasha, if you want my mom can make ramen. She makes it from scratch and it's the best!" Kagome smiled.

Inuyasha immediately brightened, "Ok then."

"Oh! That's wonderful!" Kagome's mom clapped her hands, "We haven't had a guest over for so long!"

She turned and went back into the house, mumbling about things she would have to buy and what she would cook…

Kagome turned back to Inuyasha, "That's for the food and the ride home Inuyasha."

He shrugged, "Whatever. I'll see you at school tomorrow okay?"

She nodded, "Bye Inuyasha."

He waved and got into his car, and drove off.

When Kagome went back into the house she found her mom watching Inuyasha's car drive away through the drapes.

"Mom what are you doing?" Kagome asked.

She turned to Kagome, "Oh honey, he's so handsome! My little girl and her boyfriend-"

"Mom!" Kagome exclaimed, "He's not my boyfriend! We're just friends! That's all!"

Her mom just continued to smile, "I called a tow truck and they are going to pick up your car and tow it to a mechanic."

Kagome sighed and went up to her room. Already it was seven o'clock. Had she really been out with Inuyasha that long?

After taking a quick shower she sat down at her desk and did her homework.

Her phone rang and she picked it up.

"Hello?"

"Hi Kagome, it's Sango, are you alright?" she asked.

"Yeah, why?"

"I walked outside after practice and I saw your car there, but no you!" she exclaimed, "I thought Naraku had gotten you or something!"

Kagome laughed, "No, I was walking home when Inuyasha found me. We went and had some ramen at that ramen restaurant, then he drove me home."

There was a pause, "Maybe it would have been better if Naraku found you," a male voice laughed.

"Miroku? Is that you?" Kagome asked, "What are you doing at Sango's?"

"He's not," Sango cut in, "It's a three way. He was worried too."

"No need though I see," Miroku said, "So what did you and Inuyasha do exactly."

"I don't like what you are implying Miroku," Sango hissed.

Kagome laughed, "don't worry we just talked."

"What about, if you don't mind me asking," Miroku said.

"Just about Inuyasha and when he was younger," Kagome shrugged.

"Sounds boring."

"No, he told me about how he related to my story about my old school. He said he was picked on when he was a kid for being a half demon," she sighed, "It was different talking to him like that."

"Oooo, sounds like someone is falling for Inuyasha," Miroku teased.

"Shut up Miroku," Kagome said, "when are you going to tell Sango that you are in love with her?"

There was a pause.

"Oh my goodness! My mother is calling me! I better go!" and then there was a click and Miroku was gone.

"What did you mean by that Kagome?" Sango asked.

"It's obvious that he likes you Sango! They way you two look at each other? A blind person could see that he likes you."

There was another pause, "You think so?" Sango asked.

"Yeah, I do," Kagome smiled, "So you like him or what?"

Sango sighed, "It's stupid I know…but I do."

"Why is it stupid?"

"You see the way he acts around girls! He groped anything that has breasts! How could I fall for such a lecher!" she exclaimed.

"Who knows why these things happen…" Kagome said.

"Well, I have to go now Kagome, my little brother Kohaku is calling for me," Sango said.

After they both said goodbye and hung up Kagome went back to doing her homework. Mr. Myoga had assigned a ten page essay on the Shikon no Tama for Monday and Kagome hadn't even started yet!

But she just couldn't concentrate…

Inuyasha was coming over for dinner tomorrow…. And Kagome couldn't figure out why she had butterflies in her stomach.

Forgetting her essay she put on her pajamas and crawled into bed.

"He's just a friend," she whispered to herself as she turned off the light, "Just a friend, that's all."

Even though she said the words herself, part of Kagome was hesitant to believe it.

How did she feel about the handsome silver haired boy?

Could Kagome be falling for him?

And if she was…

How did he feel about her?