Friends

Disclaimer: Read the one from the second chapter.

AN: I really hope you like this chapter. After all, it's just a filler chapter and it oddly means a lot to me that I don't screw up.

Kagome woke up early, around five in the morning. She yawned and rose from bed, used to the early mornings from her trips with Inuyasha. She called Ayumi who called Eri and Yuka to say she was feeling well and would walk with them to school. At around six thirty the foursome started walking to school.

Eri started talking first. "Hey, did you know there's going to be a new teacher? I heard he's really young, really hot, really rich and really available!" She giggled. "Plus he owns a huge company but he's taking a break because he's overloaded."

Ayumi and Yuka stared at her disbelievingly. "Really," Yuka asked hesitantly.

"Really really!" Eri giggled. The three started talking about what he would be like. Kagome didn't participate.

"I hear he looks kind of odd, though, but cute odd!" Eri put in and the three giggled.

Kagome laughed inside bitterly. As odd as Inuyasha? She thought. I doubt it.

The walk to school was rather uneventful. Yuka, Eri and Ayumi giggled about the supposedly new teacher while Kagome remained distant from them, still adjusting to the permanent change.

They arrived at school and walked through the yard.

"Kagome!" A voice called from across the school yard. Kagome stopped to look at the person who had called her name, obviously male.

Hojo. He sprinted to Kagome and bent over panting when he got to her. Kagome looked quizzically at him. Hojo stood up and gave her a smile.

"How are you doing?" He asked her. "I guess your arthritis is gone, then."

Kagome sweat dropped. Her grandfather obviously said that because he had arthritis. After all, a few times when she had come back she had received a package for her supposed illness from him. How could someone her age have arthritis?

"Yeah, I'm fine now and I don't think I'll get sick again. After all, I feel so refreshed!" Kagome almost cringed from the lies. She wouldn't get sick like that again, but she definitely was not fine. She did not feel refreshed. Her heart was still breaking from the loss of the Feudal Era.

Hojo grinned at her once more. "That's great! I've been really worried about you. Do you want to walk with me to class?" He asked her, hesitantly.

Ayumi, Eri and Yuka cut in as they knew Kagome would say no, which she had still planned to. "Of course!" Yuka said. "Kagome would just love to!" Ayumi said. "How could she not?" Yuka burst in. They pushed her forward to walk with Hojo. Kagome did so reluctantly.

After half a minute of silence Hojo tried to start a conversation between the two. The school was very big and it would take at least ten minutes to get to either's class, though the other didn't know the other's schedule.

"What do you have first?" Hojo asked her, hopeful they would be in the same class.

"Um," Kagome said, pulling out her schedule from her backpack. "I have Feudal History first." She said in a small voice. Kagome was surprised at this. Feudal History wasn't taught before. She thought. What if-

Hojo broke her train of thought. "Who's it with? I have it too but I don't know if it's important enough to have two classes or just one. I have it with Mr. Sukago."

Kagome smiled forcedly at him. "So do I. Isn't that awesome? We can help each other out with projects. I can't wait to start."

Truthfully Kagome was thinking something else. I'm ever so completely happy I have class with the amazing, magnificent Hojo. Seeing Inuyasha and Kikyo make out would be better. Hojo never stops talking! She sighed and gave the boy another smile, again forced.

Hojo smiled back at her. Only this, instead of a fake smile, was a true one. "Won't that be fun? I wonder if today will just be an introduction day. After all, this is a new class."

They made brief conversation about the class as they walked down to the south end of the school. Room 409 was on the fourth floor of the five floor school.

"I wonder who the teacher will be." Hojo said brightly. "It'll be quite a surprise, whoever it is. I'm expecting an old bald man with eyes like slits and furrowed eyebrows like this," Hojo wrinkled his eyebrows and half-closed his eyes, making him quite a sight.

Kagome giggled, only partly fake this time. She was beginning to almost enjoy herself with Hojo. After all, he was trying so hard it was difficult not to laugh at his impressions. The only bad thing about being seen with him was the girls glaring at her, seeing as a lot of them liked him.

"I don't think so. I heard he's really young and cute. At least, that's what Eri says. Her mom is the head of the Parent-Teacher Association so I figure she must be right. I also heard he owns a company that's really big." Kagome said, almost laughing at Hojo's expression of jealousy.

Hojo flushed different shades of red from embarrassment. He scratched the back of his head and shrugged. "Well, he could be dangerous or did something to sabotage his company by accident. And," Hojo added, blushing even more. "You're a very pretty girl Kagome. People could take advantage of you."

Kagome could have burst out laughing because of the cheesiness of it all. Oh, look at me, She thought. I have killed a few tons of demons and put my life in danger hundreds of times but men could totally take advantage of me. So true, Hojo, so true.

"Come now, Hojo. I'm sure I can take care of myself, but thanks for worrying. Oh, and I'm sure Mr. Sukago will be fine. Anyways, you can't judge someone until you know them. It would be unjust, something people don't like."

Hojo moved toward the door of Room 409 and started to speak but was cut off as the bell rang and the teacher opened the door. He appeared to be rather indifferent to the two students almost being late.

"Higurashi, thank you for the compliment but try not to be so late. A second later and you would have had to wait outside." The cold voice that belonged to who would be their teacher said.

To Be Continued…

AN: Ooh, cliff hanger. Who is the mystery teacher? sarcastic Bet you can't guess: P

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