Caving In

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha or the characters. That privilege is reserved to the most honorable Rumiko Takehashi. I bow down to her awesomeness!

A/N- thoughts are in italics… hint hint. I will update as soon as I am able. Please review either at the end of chapters or when you are finished completely, either is fine w/ me. Thank you for choosing to read this fanfic! It is the first I've ever posted. I appreciate all types of feedback!

Chapter 2: You call it Awkward Silence… I call it Dramatic Pause

After her father died, a few years back from a brain tumor, Kagome dedicated herself to become fully knowledgeable in medicine. It was only when she stumbled upon the university's website that she obliged herself to become a nurse. She had wanted to be able to save at least one life, since she had lost the only true friend that she had in her father.

The automatic doors slid open for her. She didn't feel like using the revolving door today. She was usually carefree and played around in them, but today was different. As Kagome entered the lobby area, her classmate and childhood friend, Hojo called out to her from the elevator. Hojo was Kagome's age. He had milk chocolate hair that matched his gentle eyes and he had a slight build. She waved back and began to walk his way. As she almost reached Hojo and the elevators, a tall figure stepped between them. Startled, Kagome looked up at the very tall, white haired youkai.

The youkai glanced down at her with chilling amber eyes, "Shouldn't you be getting to class, Ms. Higurashi?"

"Uh… y-yes. Hojo and I were just on our way up, Professor Sesshoumaru." She stammered as she walked into an open elevator with him and Hojo.

In an instant, the elevator doors whispered shut and strange, lobby-like music came over the speaker. Kagome stood in front of the doors while Hojo stood behind her left and their professor behind her right.

Kagome's eyes darted to her right then to her left and thought, 'Awkward….' She sighed to herself, weird music still playing in the background.

A chime sounded from the elevator and the doors slid open again to reveal other students and professors rushing to their classes. Hojo turned to Kagome, grabbed her arm and started to walk out of the elevator and down the hall to their first class of the morning; Sesshoumaru lagging far behind.

"H-Hojo, what are you doing?! Let go of me!" Kagome harshly whispered.

"No."

Befuddled, Kagome stammered, "W-what?! Why not?"

His reply was, "I saw the way the professor was looking at you, Kagome. I didn't like it at all."

Kagome had to blink a few times to understand that Hojo was telling her that he was trying to protect her. She stopped dead in her tracks and wriggled out of his light grasp.

"Kagome?" Hojo turned to her.

"I don't need anyone to protect me. Not now. Not ever." She asserted, her bangs shading her chocolate eyes, and she brushed past Hojo to their classroom.

He looked at her; his feelings injured, and then followed her silently into the first of their final classes for the year.