I do not own InuYasha or any of the characters created by Rumiko Takahashi
Authors Note : Hello everyone! Thanks for being so patient! I've had some health issues lately but I am back! And writing everyday! Thanks to all those who have recently followed the story! Enjoy reading and if you like what's happening in the story, have suggestions or even just want to say what could be worked on don't be shy to leave a review! P.S. I'm planning on things to really start unraveling! :)
"Sooooooo.. are you guys like dating?!"
"Are you kidding Ayumi?! He picked her up from her house and carried her all the way to school! Totally dating!"
"I'm so jealous of you Kagome!" Eri squeals clapping her hands in excitement. I let out small sigh and roll my eyes. The minute Inuyasha left to tell Ms. Izawa about my injuries during lunch Yuka, Ayumi and Eri wasted no time ambushing me. For the past ten minutes all they had done was ask question after question and ramble on about our non-existent relationship. Practically talking themselves in circles while never really stopping to listen to what I have to say. Inuyasha was right, they really do sound like they're squawking. I let out a small chuckle as I pushed around the remnants of my lunch thinking about the gruff boy with the honey hued eyes. All morning he did nothing but complain at every little movement I made and even yelled at me when I limped too fast to the bathroom. A small smile quietly spread across my face, I would be lying if I said I wasn't enjoying the fact that he was so worried about me. But.. I can't help but wonder if his sudden change in attitude towards me is only because he feels responsible for what happened yesterday. There's a small pain in my chest at the thought. Or maybe.. maybe it's more than just guilt? Maybe.. he cares?
"Earth to Kagome! Are you even listening?" the sound of Yuka's voice immediately brings my attention back to the three girls surrounding my desk.
"I'm sorry, what were you saying?" I mumble, making unnecessary adjustments to my sling to keep myself distracted under their demanding gazes.
"What is going on with you and the new guy?!" they yell in unison. Not this again!
"Oh come on you guys! Just drop it will ya?" I snap, struggling to pack up my finished lunch, hoping they would take the hint that I was done with social hour. "I already told you there's nothing going on between me an-"
"Higurashi!" an all too familiar, annoying voice calls cutting me off before I can completely lose my patients with my prying friends. I look up to see Hojo walking into the classroom with a little too much spunk in his step than I'm used too, geez what now?
"Hi Hojo, what's up?" I say, doing a poor job of returning his kind smile.
"I heard about what happened yesterday! I thought these would help with your injuries," he chirps, placing a small bundle on my desk. Hesitantly I unwrap it to see that he has packed various brands of compresses and a tube of some kind of ointment. "My mother made the ointment!" he says giving me a bright smile. "It's organic and should help with the pain in your knee and shoulder!" again with the random gifts? Stifling a groan, I manage to throw him a small smile before stowing the bundle in my bag but not before I catch the smug looks the girls were giving me as they walked off to their seats. Great.. I know I'm going to hear about this later.
"Uh.. thanks Hojo. I really appreciate it," I say trying to keep my tone even but polite. There's an awkward silence that grows between us as he quietly shifts from foot to foot. "Was there something else you needed?" I prompt, trying to calm my irritation.
"I was wondering," he starts, glancing at me nervously and I begin to tap my fingers on the desk my patients wearing thin. "Is it true that the new guy picked you up from the shrine and carried you all the way here?" my cheeks warm at his directness and I can't help but stare at him in disbelief, why does everyone feel like it's their business what Inuyasha and I do?! "I mean the entire school is talking about it, and I just wanted to see if it was true."
"Yes it is, what of it?" I say through gritted teeth, I don't know how much more I can take of this.
"I see. We'll if you don't mind I can help you get around and I can even take you home after school," he quietly suggest continuing to fidget. By now I can feel that my entire face is red from embarrassment, and I stare at him in disbelief until his cheeks turn a soft shade of pink. What is he saying?! "It's just I heard that you two don't exactly get along so I thought maybe you would feel better if it was me taking care of you. I know he probably feels guilty about what happened, but that doesn't mean he has to stick around and make you feel even more uncomfortable," my heart sinks, so I guess I'm not the only one who thinks Inuyasha's only helping me because of guilt. I feel tears prick the back of my eyes, but I managed to muster up all the strength I had to swallow my mood change. Even if he is only sticking around because of guilt, I'm not about to have Hojo carrying me around school. It was hard enough to fend him off in middle school and I don't want him getting the wrong idea.
"That's okay Hojo. I'm fine with Inuyasha taking care of me, we're actually getting along better now," catching the sly looks the girls give me I shoot them a scowl, before returning to Hojo's disappointed gaze. "Plus I promised Mr. Totosai that I would help Inuyasha study for our midterm so I need to be with him anyways," I add lightly, trying to not hurt his feelings completely. Instantly his smile brightens.
"That is so like you to put your promises you made to others before your own needs," he chuckles softly giving me a look that would make any normal girl weak at the knees. "Well okay then, but if you need anything please don't hesitate to ask me. I got to go, see you later Higurashi," he says giving me a bashful smile before exiting the classroom. Am I really putting someone else's needs before mine?
"Yeah right Kagome," I say quietly. You're selfishly taking advantage of his guilt.
"You talking to you're self now wench?" snapping my head up I see Inuyasha standing in front of my desk, scowling down at me. "I knew you were clumsy but don't tell me you're crazy too."
"So what did Ms. Izawa say? Was she upset?" I say waving his comment off with my hand, why again did I turn Hojo down to be toted around by this jerk? Grunting at my dismissal, he takes his seat next to mine and turns his attention to the students shuffling into class.
"Nah she's not upset. She said to come by the club room on Monday so you can discuss when you will be returning," he says, shooting a glare at a student that walked a little too close to his desk.
"Thank you," I say softly. Turning to face me, he arches his eyebrow. "I mean for going to talk to Ms. Izawa for me. Also for picking me up this morning and helping me around school," giving him a weak smile I turn my attention to the board trying to hide my flushing face. "You don't have to feel guilty about what happened, it wasn't you're fault. So if you don't want to help me anymore I can ask my friend Hojo. I don't want to burden you any longer."
"Do you ever stop talking?" throwing him a sideways glare, he grunts and scowls right back. "Just shut up and let me help you," his voice is gruff. "Besides, that weak little boy would probably drop you and make your injuries worse. Tell him to mind his own damn business and just let me take care of you stupid," he says, focusing on the board once more. Relief washes over me, and I can't help but feel pleased. If I didn't know any better I would think Inuyasha sounds jealous… Maybe things really are different between us. My heart wouldn't stop pounding for the remainder of class.
- After school -
"I told you wench, you aint makin any damn sense," Inuyasha grumbled roughly erasing the scrawl on his paper. Throwing his pencil down in frustration he ran a hand through his hair while continuing to curse our math books. Again, we had been in the library for almost two hours studying and had made no progress, I'm gonna have to talk to Totosai. Inuyasha is not going to do well on the midterm.
"The midterm is tomorrow, and at this rate I don't see how you're going to pass," I mumbled closing my textbook with a loud thud.
"Keh, not like I give a damn. Fucking hate this place," I make a face at his choice of language but I don't argue with him. It's pretty clear he doesn't like school.
"Hey Inuyasha, can I ask you something?" looking up from his crumpled paper, he lifted his eyebrows in response. "I was just wondering what you did before you came here?" the glare he gave me was of a new intensity that made me shiver. "I just mean, like where did you go to school? Or if you ever went to class? I don't think you realize how behind you are," I defensively say, flushing slightly. Scoffing he turned his attention back to his paper, smoothing out the wrinkles the best he could. At first he didn't answer, maybe I was being to forward in asking. He doesn't owe me any explanations.
"I don't remember," he says, sitting back in his chair.
"What do you mean you don't remember?" I question, my eyebrows scrunching up in confusion.
"What part don't you get?" he says leaning back in his chair scowling at me. He can't be serious? What doesn't he remember? Picking up on my confusion I can see him growing agitated as he runs another hand through his hair. "Look one day I just wake up in this strange place with no memories of how or even why I'm here. Then they force me to go to this stupid school and shove all these rules about how to live here down my throat!" Before he.. woke up?
"I don't understand. You really don't remember anything before you woke up? And where exactly did you 'wake up' ?" he lets out a deep sigh.
"It doesn't matter where I woke up, point is I did and now I'm here," he says throwing me a look telling me to drop the subject.
"Fine, but that still doesn't answer my question. Do you really not remember anything before?" I say, shifting uncomfortably in my chair under his golden gaze.
"Why can't you ever just shut up?" he grumbles, before letting out another deep sigh. "I remember some stuff from when I was younger. Like stuff with my mom," his golden eyes now downcast. "But everything else is a blur," he adds quietly. "Look could we drop this already?" he snaps as he starts to pack up his stuff.
"Fine," I grumble as I struggle to follow suit.What are the chances that Inuyasha is also suffering from some type of memory loss just like me. This can't be coincidence. I mean Mama recognized him thats gotta count for something right? But he's clearly not a half demon and doesn't seem to remember me if we were somehow traveling together 500 years in the past. Geez, just listening to myself even I think I sound crazy. All I know is this all can't be coincidence. It just can't be.