Alright, so originally this was going to be part of the first chapter, but the document was to fat or something and I had to cut it down. So. Now we're getting somewhere. Not that Hojo's behaviour is the direct fault of MistoMeshai

;) Read on, enjoy!

When Kagome walked into the kitchen, Inuyasha was drinking a bowl of miso and waving a sausage wildly between his chopsticks. Seemingly he was into one of his "being a man" speeches Sota often listened to. Inuyasha cut off in mid sentence, and pushed a bowl of beef flavour instant noodles across the table toward Kagome.

"For you. Eat fast, I'll leave you behind." Then he turned back to Sota and continued his speech. Kagome smiled as she sipped the hot broth. 'For you.' was the nicest thing Inuyasha had said all week.

Just as Inuyasha instructed, Kagome Ate quikly and before ten minutes were up, she and Inuyasha were out the door, tripping over Buyo, the fat calico lazing in the sunlight. Before the two were halfway across the temple's courtyard, however, Kagome heard a familiar bicycle bell from the gate. Hojo. Kagome pushed Inuyasha into a nearby bush and ran to her would-be-boyfriend. He was just as much an idiot as Inuyasha, but much more pleasant company and with a kinder nature. However, today Hojo's usual smile was replaced by an awkward look, and he seemed tense. Even as he spoke, everything about him radiated nervousness.

"Hey Kagome. It's good to see you feeling well. Now, I know that this isn't going to be easy, but I really hope you're going to understand this. Not that I'm hoping you're- it's not a bad thing if you are though, I just meant- oh god."

"Slow down Hojo, what is it you're trying to say?"

Hojo took a slow, deep breath. "Alright Kagome. I know we've sort of been dating, and this isn't a good time, what with you're health being what it is, but, we haven't REALLY done much dating and I hope you'll understand that I've come to realise… Kagome's smile faded. True, Hojo wasn't really the person Kagome wanted, but he was wasting her time. She raised one eyebrow, just before Hojo spilled his heart. " I'M SORRY KAGOME BUT I LOVE BOIZ!"

Kagome was stunned. She usually handled rejection well, but never had she been cast off for men. Hojo seemed even more high-strung now. With a quick "hopetoseeyouinschooltodaykagomenicetalkingtoyougottagobye!" Hojo climbed onto his bike and sped away with Olympic gold medal speed. Kagome stood at the gate, shocked at her newfound knowledge, until Inuyasha came up behind her, and growled.

"Exactly WHYdid you feel the need to push me into the THORN BUSH?

Kagome just blushed. With a scoff, Inuyasha strode off to the shack built around the bone eater's well, Buyo following In hopes of getting petted. Kagome too, followed, and watched as Inuyasha jumped down with a deadly, demonic grace. Kagome scratched Buyo's head. "I'll be back soon Buyo, keep out of trouble, kay?" and with that, Kagome slipped over the well's edge.

Kagome felt as if she were sliding through a thick Gel, as cold as ice. She couldn't see, and she seemed to be pulled gently in all directions. Reality fell away…

Then Kagome's feet hit hard packed dirt. Pulling herself up from the well with a vine, Kagome swung her legs over the edge of the well and picked up the furry red flash that streaked toward her.

"Hey Shippo, did you miss me?" she asked, smiling. Shippo grinned back and nodded. They hugged.

"I hate to break up the love-fest." Inuyasha half yelled, already about twenty meters away and looking eager to leave. "But let's go already!"

"Now Inuyasha, patience is a virtue you know." Emerging from around a tall, thick tree, the owner of the cool, teasing voice, the tall and attractive monk miroku smirked in the way only miroku could.

"And what do you know about virtues, lecher?" came a second, female voice from the other side of the tree. Sango, the muscular girl in demon slaying armour and a pink kimono raised one unimpressed eyebrow.

"And what were you two doing behind that tree?" Shippo muttered, low enough that only he and Kagome could hear. Kagome giggled like an airhead, stood and ran towards Inuyasha, grateful to be back among friends that knew she wasn't sick, and who talked about more than boys. She only moved a few steps however, before an unearthly moaning came from the well behind her.

MOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!

Kagome turned, and looked down the well, and dropped Shippo. "Oh my god." She murmured. "It's Buyo."