Love of friends

Chapter 7: School Daze!

Queen of the Jean Purse /Princess of the Leather Purse/Baka-chan: (Tears in eyes from happiness)

QJP: We've been waiting for this for ever!

BC: (Annoyed) Aw c'mon guys. It hasn't been that long.

Everyone else: ...

ACC: Yeah, even I know that's not true.

BC: Oh... be quiet you. 11/03/06 Is when I revamped this chap, and this one is one of my favorites. So here's hoping it turns out better then ever before. I don' own Inuyasha and co. but I do... er, own my ACC?

ACC: Own? Own!? I make my way out of your Lock Box of Ideas, and this is the thanks I get?

PLP: Wait a minute... Lock Box of Ideas?

BC: (Slaps forehead) Crap... look what you did now.

The sun had not even fully risen... so what was that pervasive noise? It was really starting to irritate Kagome... that loud bell... it hadn't been ringing for too long, but what was it? If she didn't know any better, she'd think it sounded like a... Kagome bolts upright, grabbing hold of the alarm clock. "That's the time!? No!!!" She leaps to her feet, and rushes around the campsite. Now where were her shoes? 'Oh, they're on the other side of the fire.' She quickly slips them on, picks up her bag, and almost falls on her face from the sudden weight change.

Luckily, she is caught by a silver-haired hanyou, "That's one of those... those... why the heck do you have that noisemaker thing here anyway?"

Her alarm clock was still ringing in her backpack. "I'll explain later Inuyasha! Right now I have to go home, get clean, and get ready for school!"

"You are not leaving! I agree to your resting and you plan to take off?"

"Please, Inuyasha..."

"No!"

"Sango... go ahead!" She turns and runs toward the well.

Inuyasha starts running after her, "Hey! Get back here wench! NOW!" He can't get too far before skidding to a halt.

Sango stood in front of him, boomerang blocking the path, "She's offered to cook for my week, just to keep you here... I'm not about to let you through."

"No! She's..." He tries to push Sango's boomerang out of the way but she repositions it in front of him, "...supposed to be resting... She wanted to rest, the only reason I agreed was because that bxxxxxx Naraku's in hiding!"

"Inuyasha... It's important for her to go."

"Why?" He finally turns and goes back to the fire, "She didn't say anything about her 'tests' so why would it be important?"

Sango follows, cautiously, in case Inuyasha decides to make a quick run to the well, "It seems she wants to see friends of hers... I wasn't too sure."

Miroku had been leaning against a tree, quietly contemplating the situation when he finally decides to speak, "Maybe she has given up hope on you Inuyasha... maybe Lady Kagome has found someone else to be her..." He stares intently at the red clothed hanyou, "Mate?"

"Wh-what are you talking about?" He leans over closer and threatens the monk with his fist, "And whatever it is you better stop..."

"Miroku..." Sango couldn't help but smile at Inuyasha's reaction, "I didn't say anything like that."

Shippo bounds out from underneath Kagome's covers, "Hey... where's Kagome gone to?"

Inuyasha walks over, leans down, and starts bonking poor Shippo on the head.

"OW! Stop it Inuyasha! I'M TELLING KAGOME!"

Sometime later, in modern day Japan, Kagome was having her own problems. She didn't have time for her bath, or even a shower. She barely even had enough time to get ready. And now, once again, she was stuck in an unwanted conversation with Hojo... and all because of her so called "friends".

"Uh... Higurashi? Are you positive you should be at school today? You don't seem very well... In fact, you seem a bit distracted."

"Oh yeah, I mean no, I... sorry Hojo. I am a little under the weather. But, I think it might be... stress."

"Ah, we get our grades today. Don't we? I'm sure you did well Higurashi, so there's nothing to be stressful about." He smiles reassuringly at her. "Well. I'm going to class now... but before I go, here!" And hands her a bag of brown goop.

Kagome grudgingly accepts it. "Um, thanks Hojo... what is it?"

"You see, I heard you were having problems with your skin. And in fact, that most of it was peeling off... this helps with dry skin. I have to get class now, but I'll see you later. Bye Higurashi!" He adjusts his backpack and "slides" off to his class in his weird "nothing I said fazes me and we should go out on a date real soon" way, with a wave of his hand.

'Grampa... dry skin? Oh... what am I gonna do with this stuff...'

(BC: just to tell you, Eri has the head band, Yuka has the short hair, and Ayumi has the wavy hair... I know these have been eating at your brains, the "Who is who?" thing. Well thanks to my "The art of Inuyasha book" NOW YOU KNOW...)

Eri grabs onto Kagome's sleeve, "You didn't even say bye to Hojo... did you realize that?"

"Yeah", Yuka agrees. "At least she said thank you to him."

"Umm guys?"

Both Yuka and Eri turn to Ayumi, "What is it?" asks Yuka.

"We're trying to talk with Kagome before..." Before Eri can finish, the school bell starts to ring and Yuka and Eri turn and look to each other before shouting "WAS THAT THE FIVE MINUTE BELL?" in unison.

They rush to their classes and Kagome shakes her head, "Guess we better go too..."

"Kagome?"

"What is it Ayumi?"

She points up and Kagome looks at the sign above the door, this was their class. "Oh..."

Ayumi smiles, "I knew we'd talk to you for a long time... I thought it would be a good idea to be near our class."

"Good thinking."

By the time the class was over Kagome figured that today was just not her day. Her math teacher had made sure to give her a LOT of practice work for summer... it was good today was a half day, otherwise she'd explode. Her next two classes would have all her friends... not just one or two. She couldn't help but wonder if this would be good or bad. Now what was her next class? Oh that's right... science... good thing the teacher was nice, they'd probably talk the whole hour. That would be when she got her report card too...

"Kagome, we're here..."

She looks over nervously to her friend, "Ready for report cards Ayumi?"

"Sure... I like school!"

"Kagome! Here you are!" Yuka shouts while trailing behind Eri.

"Yeah, we'd thought we'd wait for you at your last class, but you had gone already."

"If I hadn't, I'd be late for this class!"

"Kagome's right Eri..."

"Oh Ayumi, I'm sure we could have gotten her here on time. It's not that hard."

"I'm more worried about my grades then being late."

"Yuka, you probably did fine! You can stop worrying, now Kagome on the other hand..."

"Thanks for being so positive Eri..."

"Well, you have been absent a lot this year.", says Eri.

They stop their chatting when a cough above their heads interrupts them, "Ladies... would you mind coming into class now? The bell rang a good five minutes ago..."

All four of the girls apologize with a "Sorry Mr. Hitomi..." before running into the classroom. As soon as they had walked through the door, the school bell began to ring. They turn to their science teacher, trying to figure out what was going on, when he begins to laugh.

"I'm sorry Ladies... but I figured a good scare would hurry you in. I couldn't let you all become late on the last day of school!" He gives them a wink, "You might have ended up missing your report cards." He lets out another good-natured laugh before walking to his desk in the front of the room.

Kagome and Ayumi are the first to head to their seats, but they end up having to go back and drag Yuka and Eri away from the door. They were too busy staring at the teacher writing on the board to realize they had been left behind. It seemed most of the female student body was infatuated with Mr. Hitomi, but that's bound to happen with young teachers...

When she gets them to seats in the back of the room, Kagome can't help but start yelling at the two in a harsh whisper. "First you almost get me late, then I have to save you from embarrassment? Ayumi, are you the only one with sense left?"

Eri moves uncomfortably in her seat, "Kagome, you're being kinda harsh!"

Yuka turns away, "We were just..."

"I know... I know..." Kagome sighs. "A lot of stuff is going on in my life. I'm just a bit grumpy, I'm worried about my grades."

"Well duh, so's everyone else." scoffs Eri.

Ayumi gives the rest of them a smile, "I'm not... I'm pretty sure I got A's. Maybe a B here or there, but still pretty good."

"Yeah, but you're the smart one... why cant I be the smart one?", Yuka asks wistfully.

"Ahem?"

They look forward and the whole class is standing in line, most of the girls fighting for the front, with Mr. Hitomi holding a pile of envelopes. "I'm sure you Ladies want your report cards... don't you?"

"Yes Mr. Hitomi!"

"Then why didn't you get in line like everyone else?"

They slink quietly to the back, a number of their classmates snickering as they do. Kagome was at the rear and soon enough, it was her turn for her report card. Mr. Hitomi hands it to her and as soon as she touches it he leans forward to talk to her privately, "Don't worry so much Miss Higurashi."

"I'm not worried."

"You look ready to lose your breakfast. For being absent most of the school year, you have done remarkably well. In fact, a number of your teachers were surprised at just how well you did! I, on the other hand, knew better then to think you would know absolutely nothing by the end of the year. I'm sure your friends must have been a very big help but to do what you have done, you have to be smart. Others in such situations end up dropping out, but you kept at it. I can tell you that I'm not the only one proud of you Kagome, you're a wonderful student and I really hope to see you next year."

This left her more then just a little embarrassed, "Umm... Thank you, Mr. Hitomi..."

"You are very welcome... now, I think your friends have been waiting anxiously long enough, you should hurry to them."

"Yeah... I'll do that." She turns around and almost runs back to her seat, her face was flushed and she knew a number of her classmates were glaring at her. As soon as she had sat in her seat though, she started getting the full questioning from her friends.

"My god Kagome, do you know how long you were up there?" questions Eri.

"You look like a tomato, what'd he say?" asks Yuka.

"He didn't... Proposition you for a way to better your grades, did he?"

"Oh my god! Do you think he would Eri?"

"Well duh... Kagome's not exactly ugly, Yuka."

"I know that! I meant, do you think Mr. Hitomi would really do something like that?"

"I don't know... he might. Besides, why else would Kagome look so embarrassed?"

"Oh... you're right! Do you think we should tell the Principal?"

"Don't you guys want to hear what Kagome has to say before you do something too drastic?"

"What are you talking about Ayumi? We are listening to Kagome..."

"Or, at least we would if she was talking..."

"Guys! Will you stop arguing now?" Interupts Kagome.

"Sure, if you tell us what he did to you."

"He didn't do anything."

"Was he saying he'd give you an A in this class if you would..."

"Yuka!"

"What?"

"I can't believe you just said that!"

"I didn't say anything, you interrupted me before I could finish, Eri."

"Yuka... Eri... all he said was I did well!"

"He took a lot of time for three words."

"Eri... he did say more, but it was all along those lines. Do you guys always have to let your imaginations run wild?"

"They don't run wild..."

"Besides, they wouldn't need to if you would just drop that bad boyfriend of yours!"

"Bad...?" 'Is she talking about Inuyasha? He's not, that bad...'

"Yeah, he is bad news Kagome. It'd be better if you dated Hojo..."

"Or even someone like that Inuyasha guy from your notebook. Then we wouldn't have to worry about you."

'Wait a minute. That is my boy... who they think is my boyfriend. What's going on?' She's about to voice her question when the bell rings. Yuka and Eri hurry out but pause by the door to urge Kagome out of her seat.

"Come on Kagome! If we don't get to the hallway soon, it'll be crowded."

"Eri, we have to go. If we want to see them we have to hurry!"

The two rush off, Kagome knew just where they were going. The boy's lockers were in a hallway separate from the girl's, that didn't stop a number of the school's girls from going down it to look at the guys though. Kagome was reluctantly starting to follow when she noticed that Ayumi was heading in the opposite way. She turns and runs after her, "Ayumi? Where are you going?"

At her name, Ayumi stops and turns around. "I... don't like going down that hallway. It's too... crowded..." She's looking at the floor but Kagome could tell, she was blushing.

"I know you're lying..."

Ayumi looks up, her face a bit redder. "N-no... It's the truth. B-besides, we always end up l-late. It's the long way to get to Language Arts."

"Ok, that is the truth... but not the whole truth. Come on, we can walk and talk at the same time..." She turns Ayumi around and gives her a small push.

"I was heading for a shortcut..."

"Good it'll save time... so?"

"So what?"

"Why don't you want to go that way?"

Ayumi gulps, "I... he, um this guy I... I..."

"Have a crush on him?"

"Yeah..."

"I remember when I had a cold and you guys came to visit, you said something about a guy... is this the one we're talking about?"

"Uh-huh..."

"It's not Hojo, is it?"

Ayumi gives Kagome a shy smile, "I wouldn't be able to handle liking a guy that half of the school likes... it seems pointless to go for someone so wanted. Besides, he's too interested in you."

She lets out a sigh, " But I don't like Hojo in that way. I'd rather be friends..."

"I know. Yuka and Eri seem to be the only ones to not realize... and Hojo of course." She opens up a door and let's Kagome through before following.

"Of course..." She stops and Ayumi bumps into her.

"Kagome? What's wrong?"

She turns slightly and whispers behind her, "We're in the library... I thought we were going through a short cut!"

"We are. Come on!" Ayumi grabs hold of Kagome's hand and starts to drag her along. The library may have been a short cut, but students caught could get into trouble. Even with Kagome's absences she had heard about Miss Damare, the new librarian. She hadn't met her but, from rumors, she was glad for it.

A woman's voice reaches their ears, "Hello? Is someone there?"

"Oh no..." Ayumi had dragged Kagome behind a bookcase and though it was tall enough to conceal them, she still ducked down. "We're in so much trouble now Ayumi!"

"I know I hear students... and if you don't want to be taken to the Principal immediately, I suggest you show yourselves. Now."

"What are we gonna do?"

"Don't worry... now come on!" and Ayumi pulls Kagome from behind the bookcase with a final yank. Now they were in the open...

Light flashes off a pair of large framed glasses on a small pointed nose as the Librarian lifts up her head, her slightly wavy black hair kept shoulder length. "Ah yes... you are Ayumi correct?"

"Yes Ma'am."

She adjusts her glasses, "Then I suppose you already know that taking a short cut through the library is against school rules?"

"Yes Ma'am."

She gestures for Ayumi to come closer to her desk. Once she has, Miss Damare stares at her intently and, after what seemed like hours, she starts to laugh and Ayumi joins in! This really had Kagome confused.

"Oh, Ayumi. It's really good to see you!" She looks over Ayumi's shoulder at Kagome, "I think your friend might want to know what's going on..."

"Good idea." She turns around and grabs Kagome's arm, "She's my aunt and..."

"Your aunt?"

"Yeah..." Ayumi turns back around to her aunt, "Maybe you should explain. I don't think she believes me."

"Hold on first..." She puts her hand to her chin, trying to think. "Hmm... She can't be new, it's way too late in the school year for that. And Ayumi must have told me about her... Ah-hah! You must be Kagome Higurashi, correct?"

She nods her head slowly while being pulled to the desk by Ayumi, "That was a very good guess Miss Damare..."

"Thank you Kagome... why, you look like you've seen a ghost!"

'I've seen ghosts and not been this shocked...' "No Ma'am. I just didn't expect you to be Ayumi's aunt."

"That's understandable, I did ask her not to tell anyone."

"Oh..."

Ayumi's aunt stares at Kagome for a bit longer, "You know... you don't seem that sickly."

"Ahh, yeah, My Grandfather does all sorts of things to help. Charms and stuff..."

"That's right! You live at the Sunset Shrine, don't you?"

Kagome nods her head. "Ah huh."

"Well that must be a wonderful learning experience... some of the items there could belong in a museum."

"Some of it is pretty old..."

"Sometime I really should visit it... but anyway. I have something that I've been meaning to give to you but haven't found the time to meet you..."

She hands Kagome a thick paperback book. When she looks at the cover, she's shocked to see "A Home Guide to Disease" written on it. It looked somewhat old but it was still in good condition, and Kagome could tell it came from the library. "No... I can't except this!"

"Don't worry about it. There's already a much newer version and no one's touched that thing in years. I was just going to discard it, but I thought you might have a better use for it. From what Ayumi has said, you get some really strange diseases... or at least what your Grandfather tells everyone seems strange. I thought that he might be calling what you have something that's more familiar to him, some of the same symptoms but not the actual illness. I find it very hard to believe that you have had gout. Am I close to the truth?"

"Uh... yeah. That's pretty much it."

"Well that book should help him." She looks to her watch, "My God! They turned the bell off because this is supposed to be a longer break, if you two don't hurry you'll be late for your next class!"

Ayumi's jaw drops, "What? Oh no..."

"Ayumi I was planning to visit today, but if you're late, I don't think my sister will be happy to see me. You girls have fun!"

Kagome and Ayumi rush out from the library, "Wow, she's not as mean as I heard."

"I keep trying to tell her that being nice doesn't mean she'll get less respect, but she won't listen."

"Yeah... can I ask you something?"

She slows to a stop and Ayumi joins her, "What's up?"

"How did Eri and Yuka know about my notebook?"

"You mean you don't know?"

She shakes her head and Ayumi looks slightly nervous, "Look at your report card."

"What does that have to do with..."

"LOOK!"

She jumps slightly at the bold order from Ayumi, 'What's going on with her?' And slowly opens the envelope. Math, C... Science, B-... what was she looking for? Then she spotted it, "How'd I get an A in Language Arts?"

"Come on..." Ayumi grabs hold of Kagome's arm and slowly walks down the hallway dragging her behind.

The bell rings but Ayumi still continues her slow pace. She stops at the door and pushes Kagome in. The teacher starts a round of applause and most of the students join in half-heartedly. Ayumi sneaks in behind, and no one in the class even notices. "Kagome! Oh... your notebook was such a creative idea! All the days you have missed in school and you managed to write out such a fanciful tale. Oh... you might even become a writer one day!" Her teacher for Language arts, Mrs. Hanashi, was still bubbling with praise as Kagome went to a seat by Yuka, Eri and Ayumi.

She grits her teeth in a forced smile as she asks her friends a very important question. "Can someone please tell me what's going on here?"

Eri looks over in shock, "You mean, Mrs. Hanashi hasn't told you?"

"No..."

Yuka grabs hold of Kagome's arm, "Mrs. Hanashi has been reading from your notebook to the class."

"What?" Kagome's face turns red. In that notebook, were her tales of the feudal era. The assignment was use the notebook however you wanted, no one was ever to read them. And hers was read... to... the... class... "How'd she even get a hold of it!?"

One of the tree sheepishly raises their hand. "I can answer that..."

The movement, and its source, catches Kagome off guard. "Ayumi?"

"A couple weeks ago you... had rushed out of here right after class. We guessed that you felt sick, but you were here for the next class..."

Kagome vaguely remembered that day, she had spotted Inuyasha walking around the school grounds... without a hat on. She was almost late for her next class, but had made it just in time.

"And you kinda... left your notebook behind."

"What?" She thinks back to leaving and grabs hold of her head, she had left the notebook behind...

"I guess you didn't write your name in it, because Mrs. Hanashi was trying to figure out who's it was. And soon, as she put it, she was "captured into the story". I managed to convince her to give me the notebook, and she did. But I kept forgetting to give it to you that day, and the next day, you were gone. She took back the notebook and started reading it to the class."

"Great... I might as well go and get it."

Eri smiles, "Then there's some good news, Ayumi has it."

Kagome grabs hold of Ayumi's shoulders, "Thank goodness! I don't think I could handle walking up there! The applause was already too much for me to bear."

Ayumi laughs and quickly looks around, most of the class was being loud. Good, she didn't interrupt anything. "Ok Kagome!" She laughs again, "You can stop your death-grip."

"I will... just as soon as you hand over my notebook."

"If you let go, I'll give it you! I can't reach my backpack like this!"

"I guess you have a point. All right, I'll trust you." and lets go.

Ayumi reaches into her backpack and hands Kagome the book, but when she tries to take it Ayumi holds on tight. "We have some questions first though..."

Kagome glances around nervously. "Like what?"

Eri gets closer, "Like the names..." She shares a quick look with the other two girls around her. It seemed they had been scheming this for a while, "Or just the people themselves."

"Uh..." How could she explain this? She needed a story, and fast.

Yuka has the exact same sneaky look plastered on her face, "We figured that since you're in the notebook, that you must know these people."

"Uhhh, yeah! I know them... They're sorta... friends of the family. When I'm sick and alright to be around people but too weak to go to school my Mom takes me to visit them."

The three's faces light up, they had bought her tale. They also looked relieved.

"We were afraid that you had a crush on an imaginary guy."

Kagome's face turns read, "What? I... c-crush? What do you m-mean Eri?"

Eri scoffs, "Come on Kagome. We're your best friends, I think we can tell when you have a crush on someone."

'Yet they didn't know that I don't have a boyfriend...' "Hey, umm. Who is it that you think I have a crush on?"

They give each another look and shout in unison, "KOUGA!" Before bursting out in laughter.

This caught the teachers attention, "Ladies... you can talk but please, not so loudly?"

The quiet down and Yuka gets closer to Kagome, "We aren't stupid, Inuyasha of course."

"Yeah, he's probably better then your boyfriend... have you dumped him yet?"

"Yes?"

"Thank goodness... now I don't have to worry about him." She looks nervous, "It wasn't a bad breakup was it? Nothing that he might hunt you down and try to kill you?"

"He wasn't that bad Eri."

"I know Yuka... but still. I'm glad Kagome has her sights set on Inuyasha, now. He's right in-between your old boyfriend, and Hojo. Not too spicy and not too sweet."

Kagome's stomach growls and she leans on her hand, "No talk of food please... I didn't have breakfast."

Ayumi hands Kagome her notebook, "I'm sure that's enough questions to tide us over for now... but there will probably be more."

"I'm so glad..." The bell rings and everyone starts to pack up and get ready to leave. School was finally out. Everything was right in the world. Hojo was standing at her locker... wait, that wasn't good!

"Ah, Kagome! I have something to ask you..."

"Hojo, I really have to hurry home today."

"Oh, I'll make this quick then. Do you plan to go to the fair this summer?"

The fair... Hojo was talking about the cheaper prices of the fair once every summer. She couldn't go to that! Inuyasha probably would fight her just to go home and get supplies. Besides... she didn't want to, not with Hojo at least. "No... I think my family is going to be gone then."

"Really? That's too bad... Oh well, see ya later then!"

Kagome shook her head as Hojo ran off, "I really hope he gets a summer girlfriend or something. A couple weeks ago he was asking about the beach, now he asks about the fair... I don't think I can handle much more of this." Thinking about summer and all its activities gives her an idea... and a fun one at that! Now all she had to do was get the stuff. Hopefully she wouldn't get back too late.

ACC: (Angrily smashes shadowy fists against the table) I just don't get how you "Own" me.

BC: It's just a legal thing. You're my idea so technically I own you, but it'd take a better Authoress then me to be able to control you. And before you ask, no, QJP and PLP can't control you either. Neither can Baka-Chan.

QJP/PLP/Baka-Chan: (Enter room)

Baka-Chan: There you are BC! Now, do I look like a girl to you!?

BC: That's not what I meant, but I guess not. I mean, no girl would let themselves keep the name of "Baka-Chan." Cause really, how often do you see Hyperspace BAKA-mallets used on girls. That's an attack dealt by girls, and usually to guys. Not viceaversa.

Baka-Chan: Hey!

BC: No offense.

QJP: So, are you going to explain your "Lock Box of Ideas" now?

BC: No. Now everyone else, go runoff and be good little Crickets and review now, kay? Thanks readers!

Baka-Chan: That's it! I don't need a mallet! I'll knock some concentration in with my fist. How bout you try staying on topic!?

ACC: BC could probably use it.

BC, over and out!