Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha or any of the characters present in this fanfic. I do own the story line however!

A/N: College sucks and I really should be doing my homework but oh well. Sorry it took so long to update but I've been swamped with homework. Double majoring is not a good idea. Anywho, thanks for the reviews. Like I said, from here on out the chapters should get longer. The only reason the last one was so short was because I wanted to end it before Kagome's first day of school. Oh, FYI I always write from the omniscient point of view so any direct thoughts are in italics. Any way…. Here's chapter 2. Enjoy!

Chapter 2

"BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!" Kagome's hand came down hard on her alarm clock. "Stupid clock," she mumbled, "why can't you just leave me alone?" Kagome turned over to face the wall and pulled the covers back over her head. Maybe if she stayed here long enough everyone would forget about her and she could go back to sleep.

"Kagome!"

"So much for that idea." Kagome groaned as she got out of bed. She looked at the clock. 7:00 was way too early. As she passed her closet on her way out of her room, Kagome pulled out the clothes she would need for the day and, after retrieving a towel from the linen closet, she made her way to the bathroom.

The hot water helped to ease her tense muscles. All night she had dreamt of what today would be like. In some dreams her friends acted as if she hadn't left at all. In others she was effectively shunned by everyone in the school. Nothing she did could erase these fears from her mind. She kept telling herself that every thing would be fine, that she wouldn't turn into the social outcast that she feared becoming.

"Kagome! It's almost 7:30! You'd better hurry up!" Her mother's voice drew her out of her thoughts. With a heavy sigh Kagome turned off the water, dried off, and began to get dressed. After exiting the bathroom she walked back down the hall to her room, deposited her pajamas in the hamper, grabbed her book bag, and headed downstairs to breakfast. When she entered the kitchen breakfast was already on the table. She sat down and helped herself to a plate.

Several minutes later the doorbell rang and all of Kagome's fears came back ten fold. Kagome struggled to retain her composure as her mom went to answer the door. She got up from her seat at the table and walked out into the hall. There, standing just inside the door, was Sango. Kagome swallowed hard as she looked at her friend. Sango was taller than Kagome with long black hair. She saw some of her reservations reflected in Sango's eyes. Kagome smiled and before she knew it Sango had made her way across the all and captured Kagome in a hug. Kagome let out a breath she hadn't known she was holding.

"It's so good to see you again Kagome!" Sango exclaimed as she pulled back tears springing to her eyes.

"It's good to see you too." Kagome replied, relieved.

"We'd better get going so you can get all your classes sorted out."

"Alright, see you later mom!" Kagome said as she gave her mother a quick kiss on the cheek.

"Goodbye Honey, have a nice day!

"I will mom." Kagome smiled as she walked out behind Sango. The two girls walked down the steps to the shrine and took off toward the school.

"So, how've you been? Was it nice at your aunt's?"

"I've been good, thanks. Yeah, it was nice but it's good to be home."

"I know what you mean." Sango smiled at her friend.

"So," Kagome began a bit nervously, "how have Miroku and InuYasha been?" A dark look crossed Sango's face at the mention of Miroku.

"You'll see for yourself." Sango replied with a bit of an edge to her voice. Kagome wanted to press the subject further but the look on Sango's face told her to leave it alone and they continued the walk to school in silence.

After several minutes Kagome could see the roof of the large school peeking over the trees. Sango's mood visibly lifted as the school came into view. The school was three stories tall and had windows lining the front. There were many stairs leading up to the main doors where students were sitting either talking or trying to finish homework at the last minute.

"First stop is the Main Office where you'll get your schedule." Sango said, breaking the silence. Kagome nodded by way of a response as the girls walked up the steps leading to the front doors of the school. "Is something wrong?"

"No, of course not." Kagome said, plastering a smile on her face. The truth was that all the doubts and worries from the night before were racing through her mind. Kagome followed Sango down the front hall until she stopped in front of a set of double doors which had the words "Main Office" stenciled on them.

"Well, here you go. I'll see you at lunch OK?"

"Sure." Kagome reassured her friend. Sango waved and walked down the hall to her first class. Taking a deep breath, Kagome pushed open the doors and walked into the office. There were chairs lined up against the wall to her right and a large counter stretched out before her. There was a woman behind the counter and she seemed to be having an argument with the boy in front of her.

The door slammed closed behind her and scared both the boy and the woman behind the counter. The boy swung around to see what was going on and Kagome's eyes met gold. Kagome's breath froze in her chest. The boy stared at her for what seemed like an eternity and Kagome saw a spark of recognition flash in his eyes. No sooner than she had noticed it the look of recognition was gone and was replaced by a cold stare.

"Mr. Tashio, if you'll just wait one minute-"

"Never mind." The boy said as he snatched up his book bag and headed out the door. All Kagome could do was watch him go.

"Can I help you, miss?"

"What?" Kagome jumped as the woman behind the counter addressed her.

"Can I help you?"

"Oh. Um… Higurashi, Kagome. I'm a transfer student."

"Oh, yes. Just a minute and I'll get you your schedule." The woman said as she disappeared behind a large file cabinet. Kagome looked around nervously as she waited for the woman to return. That boy couldn't have been InuYasha, could it? He was so cold and indifferent. But she couldn't deny the resemblance. Fear gripped her chest as she realized that InuYasha may not still consider her a friend. After all, he had stopped writing to her.

"Here we are," the woman exclaimed as she reappeared from behind the files. "Your first class is math in room 212. Do you want me to show you where it is?"

"No, I think I can find it." Kagome replied

"Well, if you're sure. Give this to your teacher when you get there." The woman said and handed Kagome a sheet of paper. "You'll find the room on the second floor."

"Thank you." Kagome nodded and headed out the door. After exiting the Main Office she walked off toward a set of stairs that she had passed by with Sango on their way through the building. As she climbed the stairs her sense of apprehension increased. She suddenly felt like running back to her aunt's. She reached the top of the stairs and turned to her right.

When she finally arrived at room 212 she knocked lightly. The teacher paused in the middle of his lecture and opened the door for her. He looked to be in his late sixties with his white, balding hair and he was rather short.

"Can I help you?"

"My name is Kagome Higurashi. I'm a new student" Kagome said as she handed him the sheet of paper she had been given at t he office.

"Ah, yes. Please come in and take a seat." The teacher stepped back to let her into the room. "My name is Mr. Myouga. Everyone, I would like you meet Miss Kagome Higurashi. She will be joining our class." At the mention of her name a boy sitting in the back row began to choke on the water he had been drinking. Mr. Myouga sent the boy a glare and he promptly regained his composure.

"Miss Higurashi, would you care to introduce yourself?" The teacher asked as he turned back to Kagome.

"Well," Kagome began, not quite sure what to say, "I just moved back here after staying with my Aunt for a while and this is really my first time attending a public high school." The teacher nodded and motioned for her to take the empty desk at the front of the class room. As she sat down, Kagome quickly glanced at the boy from earlier. His black hair was tied back into a small ponytail at the nape of his neck. His violet eyes wandered around the room, refusing to make contact with hers. Kagome dismissed him and turned back to the front as Mr. Myouga started his lecture.

It was only noon and Kagome was exhausted. Years of training to fight demons hadn't prepared her for the adventure that was high school. She was still having trouble getting used to so many people in the same place. Her Aunt had lived in a secluded area and Kagome hadn't seen other people very often. Only when they went into town for food and other necessities had Kagome had direct contact with the outer world. Her only other source of information had been the letters from her mom and Sango.

Kagome picked up her tray and turned to the crowded lunch room. Rows and rows of tables stretched out before her, each one filled with happy, chattering students. Kagome looked around to see if she could find Sango in that mess of people.

"BOO!" someone said from behind her. Kagome whirled around and nearly spilled her food in the process.

"Whoa. Don't drop anything." Sango said with a grin.

"Ha ha." Kagome replied, less than amused.

"Come on," Sango said as she jerked her head in the direction of an open table, "let's eat. I'm famished." Kagome nodded and followed Sango over to the table. They both put their trays down and took a seat. Kagome stared dismally at her "Hamburger." They honestly call this meat?

"Something wrong, Kagome?" Sango asked.

"Ummm…" Kagome said as she continued to stare at her Hamburger. She soon realized that Sango was laughing at her. "What?"

"Never eaten in a cafeteria before have you?" Sango asked

"Well, no. Not really."

"You'll get used to it." Sango assured her. Somehow, Kagome was still skeptical. Kagome looked up from her food to see the dark haired boy from her math class approaching their table.

"Hey Sango, can I talk to you for a sec?" He asked

"There's nothing to talk about Miroku. Please just go away." Sango said. Kagome gaped at the boy. He is Miroku? It took a while, but Miroku finally realized she was there.

"Hey Kagome," he said a bit hesitantly, "how have you been?"

"All right." Kagome responded with a small smile.

"That's good. You had a good time at your aunt's?"

"Yeah, it was nice."

"Good to hear it. Sango, I really need to talk to you." He said as he put a hand on the girl's arm.

"I said no!" Sango yelled as she jerked her arm away from his grasp. At this Miroku sighed in defeat and turned to leave;

"I guess I'll see you around then. Catch you later, Kagome" He said as he got up and Sango grunted her goodbye.

"Yeah, sure. See ya." Kagome nodded, a little embarrassed by Sango's behavior. As soon as he was out of earshot she turned to her friend. "What was that all about?"

"Nothing." Sango replied curtly and shoved a French fry in her mouth. Kagome shrugged and turned her attention to her "lunch." After a few minutes Sango spoke up.

"So, what do you have after lunch?"

"Ummm," Kagome said as she dug through her bag looking for the schedule the lady in the office had given her, "I have chemistry, English Lit., and study hall."

"Who do you have English Lit. with?"

"Umm… Mrs. Sato."

"We have that class together." Sango said as the bell rang. The girls grabbed their bags, got up, and went to put their trays away.

"So, I'll see you in class later." Sango said as she waved goodbye to Kagome.

"Yep." Kagome replied as she walked down the hall towards her chemistry class. When she got there most of the students were already seated. The class room consisted of three rows of black topped tables that were characteristic of most science rooms, each with two people seated at them. Kagome walked up to the teacher and asked where she should sit. He pointed to a seat at an empty table at the front of the class room and handed her a text book, thankfully skipping the little intro most of her teacher seemed bent on forcing her into. Kagome sat down and pulled out the binder she would need for the class. The bell rang and class began.

"Everyone please turn to page 204 in your textbook and begin working on the problem sets with your partner." Kagome looked around as every set of two students began to work on the problems together. She shrugged and went to work. After a few minutes the door flew open and banged against the wall.

"Nice of you to join us, Mr. Tashio. I'm so glad you could work us into your busy schedule." The teacher said, rather irritated.

"No problem." The boy smirked. The teacher sighed and told the boy to take his seat. To Kagome's surprise, and horror, he sat next to her. Kagome stared openly at him.

"What's your problem?" He asked in a rough tone of voice.

"Is there something wrong InuYasha? Perhaps you would like to stay after class…again." The teacher said, getting very annoyed.

"No sir." He responded

"Then I suggest you get to work."

"Feh." Was all the hanyou said in response as he turned to his book and proceeded to ignore Kagome for the rest of the period. Kagome sighed and went back to her problems. This was going to be a long year.

Kagome walked slowly towards her English Lit. Class. Thanking heaven that it was her last real class of the day. She couldn't take much more of this. Her brain felt like it was ready to explode.

Kagome entered the class room and spotted Sango sitting on the other side of the room. She immediately made her way across the class room and sat down next to Sango. The class room held tables much like her chemistry class except for this time they were arranged in a horse shoe pattern with one row in the center.

"So, how was chemistry?" Sango asked as she propped her head on her hand

"Don't ask." Kagome responded

"That bad huh?"

"Yup. I met InuYasha." At this Sango raised an eyebrow. "He's my lab partner." Kagome elaborated.

"Ha! Good luck." Sango said as she turned to her bag and pulled out her notebook and textbook.

"Thanks, I think I'm going to need it." Kagome said as Mrs. Sato walked into the room and began her lecture for the day.

"Finally!" Kagome said as she threw her hands up in the air and walked down the steps in front of the school. Sango grinned at her friend and followed. She knew exactly how Kagome felt.

"I know what you mean." Sango said as the girls headed toward home. Kagome grinned.

"I thought it would never end."

"Yeah, seems that way most of the time." Sango smiled as they continued down the sidewalk. After a short distance Kagome turned to Sango.

"Well, my house is down this way. Think you can make back home on your own?" She winked.

"I think I can make it." Sango laughed. The girls waved goodbye and Kagome continued the last few blocks to her house.

"Mom, I'm home!" She announced as she walked through the door and tossed her book bag to the side.

"How was your day, Kagome?" Her mom asked as she walked into the living room.

"It could have been worse. Then again, it could have been better as well."

"Well, at least it wasn't a total disaster." Mrs. Higurashi smiled. "By the way, this came for you in the mail." She said, handing Kagome an envelope from the small coffee table that sat by the couch. Kagome took the letter and was greeted with the official seal of The Guard as she turned it over. Great, she thought, so much for having a few days of normalcy.

All Done! Hope everyone liked and, as always, please review and tell me what you thought. Chao for now! .