A/N: It is winter break! I'm so happy! No school, no finals and plus a great story to read. (jk, it's far from great)

I forgot to explain this about their cubicles/ compartment. It has two cots and a desk by a window. The window didn't have glass; it pretty much is an opening so the proctors can watch the examinees so they don't cheat. Also picking up and tests and handing the out would be much more convenient.

So I'm sorry for the delay in updates, but I had finals. So now that they are done, chapters should be coming out steady. Hopefully.

Hope you like it. Think of it as like a Christmas present from me to all my readers. My story, not just this chapter.

Chapter Nine

Feelings of Compassion

"Sango," Kagome said again, getting the person's attention, who was sitting across from her.

Sango heard her name being called and turned to look at Kagome. She was shocked to see Kagome there. A proctor was now approaching Sango and Inuyasha to hand them their first test.

She quickly shook her head and placed a finger upon her lips, signaling Kagome not to say anything further. Inuyasha looked over at Kagome oddly wondering what she was doing. "Who are you looking at?" he asked.

"Umm…" Before she had time to come up with an answer the proctor interrupted her. "No talking during the tests."

"Sorry," they both respond at the same moment. Inuyasha and Kagome looked down, avoiding each other's eyes.

Inuyasha was handed a single piece of paper by the proctor. He didn't even bother to read it and started writing. "If I'm going to fail this, I'm going to at least show them that I can write well."

He was taught as a child by the greatest schoolmaster of all of China. He had learned to read at the age of four and written essays at the age of seven. Inuyasha knew well that if he were to try to pass these exams, his chances of doing so weren't bad. Not many citizens were able to receive the type of education he had gotten his entire life.

Inuyasha wrote down what came to him first, his trip.

A boy, or even a young man, was set free just days ago, to see the real world. Living in just a fantasy for fifteen years, a dream even. Not being able to know the hurt and dangers of China.

He paused for a moment. It almost didn't seem like him to write this way; writing with so much love and care. He adverted his gaze on Kagome. She was slowing rotating a block of wood on the ink for him to write with.

And a girl came into this boy's life. She taught him something new ever single day she was with him, even though she didn't know it. She taught him love and compassion. The boy had never felt so motivated to help anyone before, but her…

Inuyasha wrote and wrote. He used up all the time given for the question. It felt good to put all his feelings on a piece of paper. All the things that had happened to him over his stay here.

&

During this whole time, Kagome's mind fixed on one person: Sango. "Why was she doing here? Does she know how much trouble she would get in if anyone was to find out? What about Miroku? What is he going to think when he sees her here?" Questions kept on coming and there were no answers for her insight.

After awhile, she looked over to see what Inuyasha was writing about. His handwriting was pretty- very elegant. The characters were all written in cursive; it even looked like a work of art.

"Time!" all the proctors yelled in unison and picked up all the tests. "You can talk now," the same proctor that had given Inuyasha the test told them and took Inuyasha's papers.

"So, how do you think you did?" Kagome asked.

"Fabulous," he smiled.

"What was the question?"

He shrugged. "What did you write about then?"

"You didn't read it?" Inuyasha had forgotten that Kagome could've just peered over his shoulder to read every word he wrote.

"No… I can't read." Kagome responded sadly.

"Oh, well, I just wrote down a much of nothing. Don't worry." It didn't occur to Inuyasha that Kagome didn't know how to read, but it was a good thing as well. He didn't want her reading what he had just wrote. She might even think he liked her, which he absolutely did not.

"Well, that's good. You have one more test to go and then we can have some dinner."

Their break lasted for fifteen minutes, but everyone was to remain in the cubicle.

The next test was short answer, and once again Inuyasha didn't read the questions and just responded.

&

Night fell and the tests were collected. Kagome got up for her seat from beside Inuyasha and prepared dinner. Each examinee was given a small stove in which to cook rice and other foods.

"Dinner better taste good. I just spent an entire day taking tests for you."

"Well, I feel very loved that you would sacrifice that much for me, Inuyasha," Kagome replied before heading out to cook in the open rather than in the tiny compartment.

Outside Sango was squatting near her own stove. Sango had not bothered bring along a servant afraid that he/she would tell on her. She didn't notice Kagome approaching, the tests had drained the energy out of her.

Kagome walked slowly up to Sango and set her own stove by hers. At this time, Sango looked up.

Her face was covered with dark powder, hiding Sango's more soft skinned face. She had dressed like a man, wearing a dark robe with pants underneath.

"Kagome…"

This time, Kagome held a finger up to her lips. She didn't want to attract any attention and most importantly, not wanting to get Sango caught for being here.

Kagome squatted down and close to Sango. She whispered softly, "You don't need to explain to me now. Just don't get caught."

Sango nodded in understanding. The both cooked in silence and pretended to not even know one another.

&

Everyone was awakened at the crack of dawn. Three more periods of testing awaited them and then they were able to leave in the evening.

Inuyasha yawned loudly and stretched about his arms. "This was the worst night I have ever spent in my life. This cot is as hard as a rock." He waited for a response from Kagome and when receiving none, noticed that Kagome was still asleep.

"Wake up, sleep head," he said as he shook her awake. "How can you sleep so soundly on a cot like this?"

"Uhhh…" Kagome mumbled rubbing her eyes.

"Come on. Get up. Testing is about to start and I can't test well if I don't get breakfast."

"All you do is eat," she said more audibly this time.

"Not true. I eat and take tests. And let me remind who I am doing this for."

"For me. Okay, I'm getting up." Kagome shook her head at him and got out some porridge for him. "You know, I hardly know you and yet, you have been doing all these things for me. How so?" she asked as she set down his breakfast in front of you.

"Would you like it if I hadn't?"

"You didn't answer me."

Inuyasha didn't know how to answer. Why is he doing this? He didn't know.

"Out of pity."

Wrong answer. "OUT OF PITY! I don't need you to pity me. I could be very well off if you hadn't come along. Things would still be find. I don't need the likes of you to pity me." Kagome was red in the face.

"That's… not exactly what I meant…"

"But that was you answer!"

"Would you let me finish!"

"Fine, tell me what you truly mean then."

"I felt bad that you were going to marry Kouga. I didn't want you to throw away your life like that. I had the money, so it was in my reach to help you. That's all."

"Happy?" he added after Kagome didn't respond.

She turned and gave him the biggest smile. "Yeah, I wouldn't have to ask you why again now. So eat up and take the test and fail and then we can get out of here."

He had to laugh at her. "Women…" he said under his breath.

"I heard that you know," she said, but smiled at him all the same.

&

Miroku was handed his third test. He took a deep breath before reaching for his brush. "I can do this, I can do this," he said in his head and read the question given to him.

"Describe the government and how it has changed over the years since the beginning of Chinese history."

Miroku started to panic. How was he going to answer this question in only two hours? The government had changed many of times and the government today was not easy to explain either, with all of its laws and different officials.

Across from him, the guy was taking off his wig. Apparently he had shaved off his hair. On his head, there was column after column of characters. Miroku squinted to see what it read.

It was the answer to this very question. How had he gotten the question in advance? There was plenty of answers to that: bribing the proctors or having an inside hand with the bureaucrats that made the tests.

But with the answer right in front of him it wouldn't be too hard to write it now. Miroku squinted some more to get the basic idea of the answer. However, to his dismay, he guy held up a mirror to see what was on his head, blocking Miroku's view. "I won't be cheating then…" Miroku thought.

Something else caught his attention now. To the left of the man that was holding up the mirror was another man- cheating. This guy had poured out of bag of rice and a magnifying glass. He was assembling the pieces of rice into his essay.

"Good luck with that," Miroku scoffed. "I'm going to write this myself, without cheating," he smiled. He looked over at the proctor, wondering why he hadn't noticed this.

The proctor saw it alright, but didn't say a word. "They must have bribed the proctors here… What is the government of China coming to with all these cheaters as officials?" And he began writing furiously.

&

Soon enough the test was over and everyone was packing up and heading home. "Finally I'm done," Inuyasha stretched out his arms and leaned back into his chair as Kagome packed up their belongings.

"Yeah, I'm glad it's all over, but you won't get your results till six months later."

"I am not going to pass. Not chance at all."

"Seeing that you wrote so much…"

"I didn't want to look like a complete idiot. It is under my name. I didn't read any of the questions, I just wrote stuff."

"Alright," Kagome had secured the last of their bags and handed one for Inuyasha to carry, "we can go now."

Inuyasha got up from his seat and followed Kagome out. Just as they went beyond the exit, someone snatched Kagome from behind.

"KAGOME!" Inuyasha screamed her name. He ran right for the brush that Kagome had disappeared in. He saw a person holding her and covering her mouth so she wouldn't scream. Inuyasha punched the person right in the face. The person had let go of Kagome and she fell into Inuyasha's arms.

"Are you okay?" he said with concern.

Kagome looked up wide eyed at him. Then regaining her senses to the whole situation, she stood up and ran over to the person.

"Are you okay Sango?" Kagome asked holding her friend in her arms.

"Sango!"

"Yeah, why did you punch her like that?" she yelled at him.

"I thought she was going to hurt you. And why is Sango dressed that way?"

"I don't know either. She was probably going to explain, but you really give her the chance."

"She could've have come by at the restaurant like any other person. But no, she decides to snatch you and pull you in here."

"Just give me a hand here and carry her home. You must have punched her really hard; Sango isn't weak."

"I did get her in the face…" He picked Sango up and lifted her onto his back. "I'm sorry. I really didn't mean too."

"Uh huh," that was all Sango could manage.

&

Kagome and Inuyasha brought Sango back to the restaurant and gave her some ice for her cheek, which was now swelling.

"Can you talk?" Kagome asked.

"Yeah, it doesn't hurt that much anymore. You do have one good punch to save your wife here," Sango said and looked over at Inuyasha.

He blushed at this. "I would have done it for anyone, not just for her."

"Sure…"

"So Sango, tell me why you were there, taking the exams."

"You both must swear not to tell any one." She looked over at Kagome and then to Inuyasha. They both shook their heads in agreement and listened to Sango.

"Okay, here it goes. I went to take the exams because…"

A/N: Sorry I had to leave it off there. You'll find the reason out next chapter. Promise It's like the same cliff hanger last time. I was thinking about telling the reason and then ending that chapter, but then it wouldn't be a good ending…

Thanks for reading and review please!