A/N: Ahoy readers ever faithful! I couldn't help but notice that most everyone's reaction to the ending of my last chapter was some Miroku/Kagome action was going to occur. That however was never my intention. The reason Kagome was being so forward was that she was upset, and therefore seemed to be coming on to Miroku. Also, when I write Miroku and Kagome they sometimes tend to have a chemistry that comes naturally as an author, because I think those two just click. However, Miroku is married with a three-year old daughter. As lecherous as he is, he will not be having and sort of fling with Kagome, nor vice-versa. Just thought I'd clear that up. I love the Kagome/Miroku pairing, but I just don't think it would work in this particular story.
Review Responses
Princess Stephanie: Kirara just isn't exactly a significant character. I mean, she's just a cat after all.
Missy Miss: I'm glad I surprised you, but I don't think Miroku is going to be getting any action off Kagome. That is unless, a slew of people review telling me to do so. I don't know, we'll see what happens.
El Diablo: What's the matter? Scare ya? Yeah, Miroku might take a few blows, but he might come out unscathed if he gets to tell his side of the story first. Kagome did sort of come on to him, did she not?
Poisoned-Sprinkles: Yeah, that would make it complicated, wouldn't it? Cheating on your wife of 3+ years when you also have a child. But I don't think Miroku would realistically do that. I mean, he is a lech, but he loves Sango with all he's got. Just because Kagome did come onto him a little doesn't mean he'll suddenly drop everything he's got going for him now. Besides, Kagome was really upset, and not quite thinking straight, so you can't totally blame her either. And I've only done this once before when you think about it. That Night doesn't count because it's supposed to be Miroku/Kagome and A Fine Line was just all a big ruse. I did it in Jealousy, unarguably, but I don't think the other two should count.
Punk Rock Miko 2: Inuyasha has to be blind. Its part of his element.
Chapter Seventeen: Date
When Kagome came out of the well on this side that housed the modern era, it had become mid-day. From the bottom of the well she could hear her grandfather speaking to someone, Kagome hoped that he was not explaining to her friends that she had another new disease that had just been discovered by medicine. She could've waited it out until the voices stopped, but Kagome was still so angry at Inuyasha that she didn't quite care what she might have to tell her friends. They had been gullible enough to believe everything Gramps had told them before, why should this time be any different?
"I'm sorry Hojo, but Kagome is going to be busy today. She needs to help me tend to the shrine grounds." Kagome heard her grandfather say. It was actually a pretty decent lie, considering the circumstances. All she needed to do was say she was cleaning out the well house.
"Hey Gramps! I'm done sweeping out the well house. You were right; it was getting like a jungle in there! Oh hello Hojo!" Kagome greeted him as if she didn't know he was already there.
"Hi Kagome! It is such a relief to finally come by when you're feeling well. I figured you might be though, considering you've been coming to school much more often then usual. Do you think you might finally be getting over your wave of sickness?" the boy asked hopefully.
"You know I think I might. Why did you decide to come by here today?" As if she couldn't guess!
"Well, I was wondering if you might like to go out sometime, catch a movie or something. I know that you've gotten ill whenever we've scheduled in the past, but since you seem to be well most of the time now, I thought it might work out this time!" Hojo remarked.
Kagome pondered this for a second. She didn't really particularly want to go out with Hojo and give him the wrong idea. On the other hand, this would be a great way to get back at Inuyasha. "Hojo I would love to go out with you! It's the least I can do, I feel really bad about missing all the other dates we had scheduled. When were you thinking?"
"Well, I was going to say this afternoon but your Gramps-"
"Don't worry about it." Gramps assured Hojo. "I supposed I can let Kagome off the hook. She does owe you this one, if I recall correctly."
"Really? That's a relief; I wouldn't want you getting sick again before we actually had the opportunity. What'd you say?" Hojo asked hopefully.
"Sure." Kagome agreed. "Just lemme go get changed into something casual okay?" She was still wearing her school uniform. "You can wait downstairs for a few minutes, can't you?"
Hojo flashed a smile back. "For you Kagome, I could wait forever."
Hojo sat down in the living room where Souta was playing Playstation2. "Hey Hojo." greeted Souta, not looking up from his video game. "What's up?"
"Oh, I'm just going out with your sister in a few minutes. She wanted a moment to change into something more casual." Hojo explained.
"You're going out with Kagome? Are you sure that's a smart thing to do?" Souta asked.
"Why wouldn't it be?" Hojo asked, expecting a typical eight-year old answer like 'She's a girl!' Hojo however, didn't know Souta was mature beyond his years and in fact already had a girlfriend himself.
"Inuyasha is going to be furious!" Souta exclaimed. "He'll kill you if he finds out and Inuyasha is not someone to be messed with."
"Inuyasha?" Hojo said experimentally, not knowing anyone with such an odd name. "Who is he?"
"He's Kagome's boyfriend!" Souta replied.
"Kagome has a boyfriend? Why haven't I heard about this? And if she does, why did she just agree to go out with me?" Hojo inquired.
"I don't know." Souta shrugged.
"Hey handsome." Kagome addressed Hojo as she came down the stairs, now dressed in casual attire. "You set?"
"Hey cutie." Hojo replied with a wink. "I'm game if you are. I must remember to ask about this Inuyasha fellow later."
"Would you like to grab a bite to eat first?" Hojo asked. "And if so, where would you like to go?"
"Why don't we just go to MacDonald's? It's been too long since I've had a greaseball on a bun." she laughed. "Then we can catch a movie."
"If it pleases you Kagome." Hojo agreed.
"So." Hojo began once they had ordered and gotten their food. "You've been coming to school so often lately! It's certainly a pleasure to see your beautiful face more and more. Do you think your wave of illnesses is finally over?"
Kagome blushed at Hojo's compliment. "Yeah, I think they might be. I might miss a few days just because of recovery, but I should be showing up at school regularly from now on. It'll be a miracle if I get to graduate with you and the rest of our class though." Kagome sighed, knowing such a feat was nearly impossible.
Hojo put his hand over her comfortingly. "Don't worry Kagome. The girls and I will do all we can to help you catch up and graduate with the rest of us."
Kagome smiled back at him. "I really appreciate the offer Hojo, but I just don't see how it's possible."
"Well, I'd do every assignment for you if I could Kagome."
"Oh no!" Kagome said. "I couldn't take advantage of you like that!"
Hojo chuckled. "It wouldn't feel taken advantage of. You'd know the material if you hadn't kept catching all those bizarre diseases. It's not like you asked for them either."
"Heh, heh." Kagome laughed nervously since her "diseases" were in fact her fault.
"Kagome, there's something I wanted to ask you. It's kind of a personal question if you don't mind." Hojo ventured.
"Shoot. I will answer to the best of my abilities." Kagome accepted
"While you were changing, your brother said you had a boyfriend. And that his name is Inuyasha. Is that true?" Hojo pried, eyeing her suspiciously.
"That brat! Why did he go and tell Hojo about Inuyasha? No one outside the family is supposed to know about him! Well, Hojo, I do have a friend whose name is Inuyasha." Kagome answered. "He was my boyfriend, but whether I still want to be with him is hard to say."
"Why? What don't you like about him?" Hojo continued, being more interrogative than he felt he should. Kagome didn't seem to mind though.
"Well, for starters, he is insanely jealous! If he knew you and I were going out right now he'd be sharpening his knives and loading his guns." Kagome said as if that were regular behavior.
Hojo's eyes widened. "Well, I can't blame him for being so jealous over you Kagome, but that does seem a little extreme."
"That's not all!" Kagome continued to rant. "He's violent and selfish and rude and he has terrible social skills! And to top it all off, he can't forget about this one girl we loved a long time ago. I know he tries his best, but sometimes that's just not good enough."
"Well, Kagome, I can be totally honest when I say I don't think this guy sounds any good for you at all." Hojo admitted. "You know I just want what's best for you, and what makes you happy. But if I could be the guy who makes you happy that would mean so much to me." Hojo confessed, giving her hand a squeeze.
Kagome blushed deeply. "W-Well, that's very sweet of you Hojo. I-I don't really k-know what to say…"
"You don't need to say anything about it yet." Hojo assured her. "Tell me more about Inuyasha. He does have some good qualities as well right?"
"Well, yeah I suppose he does. He can be very kind when he wants to, and he's strong and dependable." Kagome had to take into account.
"Yes, your brother told me he wasn't to be messed with. Souta seems to admire him quite a bit. Is he good with children?" Hojo continued.
Kagome grinned as she thought of the contrast of his treatment of Haruko to his treatment of Shippo. "He didn't use to be, but now he is his niece's favorite uncle and not her only one either."
"Oh, he has a brother?" Hojo continued his questioning.
"Well, yes a half-brother, but Inuyasha's niece isn't his relative by blood. She's actually the daughter of his best friends." Kagome explained.
"How old is she?"
"Three years old."
"I see." Hojo remarked. "I bet she's cute."
"She is. You want to see a photograph?" Kagome offered.
"Definitely." Hojo answered enthusiastically.
Kagome pulled out her wallet, and under a picture of her and her family, and another of her and her friends from the modern period was one of Miroku, Sango, Inuyasha, Shippo, and Haruko. "The tall one on the left is Miroku, he's the father. The girl next to him is her mother Sango, and that's their daughter, Haruko." Kagome pointed out the small girl in Miroku's arms.
"Who are those two?" Hojo wondered, pointing at Shippo and Inuyasha.
"The little one is Shippo, he's Sango and Miroku's adopted son, and the one with the silver hair is Inuyasha."
"How does Inuyasha get his hair like that? And his eyes?" Hojo couldn't help but ask, stunned.
"He's an albino." Kagome lied. "It's a rare, but not unheard of case."
"Is that a tail?" Hojo asked gesturing towards Shippo. "And Inuyasha has dog-ears! And they are all in such old style clothing!"
"Uh, this was taken on Halloween. They dressed as demons." Kagome quickly conjured another fib.
"Oh. You know Miroku and Sango are very young to have children aren't they? I mean Sango can't be more than a year older than we are!" Hojo exclaimed.
"She is a year older than we are. She's nineteen." Kagome said. "She and Miroku were just so in love, they didn't even wait until she was eighteen to get married. Miroku is twenty-one."
"So Sango was only sixteen when she had her baby?" Hojo asked incredulously.
"Yup. People do crazy things when they're in love." Kagome replied.
"I'll say." Hojo nodded assent. "So did they get parental consent to get married?"
"No, both of their parents died when they were younger, so they made the choice themselves." Kagome went on to explain.
"Did they have the child after they were married or before?" Hojo continued.
"After. Don't worry, there was no obligation." Kagome affirmed.
Hojo laughed lightly. "I don't think there would have to be. Sango is so very beautiful." Hojo commented.
"I know right?" Kagome agreed. "Sometimes I wish I was as gorgeous as she is."
"Aw, Kagome,don't thinklike that. You are just as pretty as Sango is, if not more so!" Hojo complimented her.
"You are just saying that." Kagome replied.
"No I'm not. Kagome, you are the most beautiful girl I know now, or have ever known." Hojo told her honestly. "You are also kind, sweet, caring and one of the smartest girls out there. I'm sure there is nothing Sango has that you don't."
"Except for a loving husband and two children." Kagome reminded him.
"True, but do you really think you're ready for a husband and children?" Hojo asked logically.
"No." Kagome confessed. "Especially considering I can hardly keep a boyfriend."
"Inuyasha is a fool to treat you the way he does, but if you think he deserves another chance I say you give it to him." Hojo finished quaintly. "I'm finished. If you are too, why don't we go down to the Cineplex and catch a flick?"
"Sounds great. I've been wanting to see V for Vendetta." Kagome hinted.
"Whatever pleases you Kagome."
After the movie, Hojo and Kagome walked back to the Higurashi's shrine. It was about five o'clock. "Would you like to join us for dinner Hojo?" Kagome offered. "I'm sure Mom won't mind having another face at the table."
Hojo kindly declined. "I'd love to, but my family will probably want me home."
"Okay. I had a lot of fun Hojo. And thanks for being such a great listener. We should definitely do this again sometime." Kagome said, being totally honest.
"That would be fantastic. Does that mean you want to end it with Inuyasha?" Hojo asked hopefully.
"I'm still not sure. I might give him another chance. I know that sometimes he acts and speaks without thinking." Kagome contemplated out loud.
"Oh." mumbled Hojo sullenly, the disappointment evident in his voice.
"Aw don't be like that. Cheer up!" Kagome encouraged him. "I haven't made any decisions yet at all. Even if things do work themselves out between me and Inuyasha, it doesn't mean we can't still go out as friends."
"And what if things don't work out between you and Inuyasha?"
"Then, you'll definitely be the one I come to." Kagome said, pecking him on the cheek.
A grin slowly spread across Hojo's face. "I can so live with that." beamed Hojo, returning the kiss. I'm glad you and I finally got to go out. Will I see you in school on Monday?"
"Absolutely. Goodnight!" Kagome called as Hojo descended the shrine stairs into the streets of Tokyo.