Thirty-seven insults, eighty-four snickers, eleven shoves, and one stolen assignment later, Kagome plopped comfortably onto the leather passenger seat of Miroku's deep blue Porche. Everyday she came to school felt like an uphill battle. Not in the academic sense of course, she was what her peers considered a genius. Nothing less than an A mark had ever graced her work and she was extremely proud of that fact. Unfortunately for her though, the trade off for her keen intelligence was the constant harassment from other students. She tried to keep reminding herself that in a few years, she would be boss, she would get to make the rules, and everyone would have to respect her. The concept was simple enough, but hard to maintain after being told by someone that her life was worth less than a pair of shoes.

"Are you okay Kagome, you're much quieter than usual.", Miroku stated sincerely as he eyed his best friend. 'Why have I never noticed her dark circles until now?'

"I'm just a little tired. I'll feel better after I go home and rest.", Kagome spoke smiling a weary smile to better her lie. She knew she wouldn't rest when the history class was beginning to catch up to her. She was only two chapters ahead! Napping in the car during the short ride home would be more than enough.

Miroku sighed, he'd expected that answer. "Well, I have a few errands to run and you'll have to come along too. I'll take you home as soon as I'm done, they shouldn't take too long."

Kagome nodded and opened the car door to get out so she could move to the back seat. No reason she couldn't stretch out while Miroku did his errands. She laid her head down on the leather seat cushion and winced as a pin from her sloppy bun pressed into her head. 'Damn these things.' Kagome sat up as Miroku started up the car and ran a small hand through her hair, displacing the pins and causing her long hair to come tumbling down in silken waves. Giving her head a toss for good measure, Kagome curled up into a ball and went to sleep on the backseats as Miroku pulled out of the parking lot.

IInInuInuyInuyaInuyasInuyashInuyasha

"Ayame, you are way too nice to him. Guys don't go for the nice girl, they want the vixen. Sex-up your image, that's how I snagged my Inu-baby. Isn't that right?", Kikyo cooed, snuggling deeper into her boyfriend's strong arms. Inuyasha tensed. He absolutely hated the nickname, it was so deemening and weak, nothing like him at all. Expertly tuning out the girlish chatter, Inuyasha's golden eyes scanned the student parking lot for his prized Range Rover.

"But Kikyo, I don't want him to just see breasts when he looks at me. I want him to want to know me.", the redhead pleaded desperately with her dark head friend.

Ayame was the fourth member and youngest member of The Hot Five. She had fiery red hair that she kept in two long ponytails, a suggestion of Kikyo's to play up her role as the sexy but innocent one of the group. As if her startling hair and fair complexion weren't enough to complete her vibrant look, Ayame's face was complimented by large, striking green eyes. In fact, it was this rare genetic combination alone that earned her a spot into the most revered clique of Shikon High.

"Ayame! Trust me, I think I know what I'm talking about.", Kikyo shot sarcastically. "Kouga isn't the falling in love type. The best you'll ever hope to manage with him is a place in his bed, and maybe a few charges on his credit card. I'll be glad when you get over this stupid fairy tale phase and live in the real world girl.", Kikyo finished in her trademark I'm-superior-than-thou tone. Ayame sighed but said nothing as she cast her eyes to the cement and bit her lip to keep from trembling.

Inuyasha frowned as the scent of tears wafted to his sensitive nose. That Ayame girl was crying, again. He sighed, while it was true that Kikyo was often harsh with her truths, Ayame still cried far too much for his tastes. The smell of salt water especially danced on his nerves and he was glad when his silver truck came into view. 'Thank God.'

Inuyasha dove a clawed hand into the pocket of his baggy black jeans to feel out his small jumble of keys. Before his digits could graze to cool surface of his car alarm, he noticed something that made him freeze in his action. Someone had been brave enough to park next to his truck.

Even when the parking lot was filled to the brim of spilling over onto the streets, the two spots surrounding the one unspokenly reserved for him always remained empty. Not that it really mattered to him anyway, it only lessened the chances of some jackass sideswiping his baby, but it was unusual nonetheless. He focused his eyes to get a closer look.

The car was definitely a Porche, and in good condition as well. He let his eyes linger on the minor details of the exotic sports car, taking in the polished rims and glistening hood ornament. He worked his way up to the windows, and had to squint a little against the glare. His eyes widened a little as he finally identified the guy from the hallway incident behind the wheel. With his keen eyesight, Inuyasha could make out the troubled expression on the short haired teen's face, but he didn't really care to think about it too much. He had problems of his own. As Inuyasha was about to bring his eyes back to the details of the car, a flash of glistening black caught drew his gaze. In the backseat of the Porche, a girl with long, raven hair gave a carefree toss of her exotic mane and promptly disappeared from sight onto the backseats. Although the encounter was a glancing one, Inuyasha took in enough of her features to know that she was the nerdy Kikyo look-alike from before, only this time, adorned with her ugly black frames. He wondered how she'd look without them and her hair down to splash against her shoulders.

"Inuyasha!", a voice cut into his thoughts. "Did you even hear what I asked you?" Kikyo asked with a suspicious look on her flawless face.

"Inuyasha, I need you to drop me off first at my house okay? Then Ayame needs to run to the mall to pick up this shirt for me and Yura needs to be dropped off at the hair salon since I'm out of shampoo. Sango will take Kagura home, so you don't have to worry about them alright sweetie? Thanks a lot.", she finished without waiting for a reply. He hated when she did that.

It was bad enough with her friends trailing behind them everywhere they went, but to be stuck in a vehicle with them trying to make conversation was brutal. Sometimes he wished they could just dump them off and be by themselves, but Kikyo wouldn't hear of it. How would we look as The Hot Four instead of The Hot Five? Gritting his teeth, Inuyasha watched as the blue Porche pulled out and disappeared out of the parking lot, a part of wishing he could leave everything behind and disappear too.

Wheeew! Glad that's out of the way, now I can start weaving the plot strings into an intricate tapestry of love and lies and betrayal rubs palms together MuahHaHa! Just kidding, but no, thanks to everyone who reviewed: darkrose56, Avelyn Lauren, Ethuiliel, AzNiCePrInCeSs, and MicKEy ML. Stay with me guys, the best is yet to come!