Royally Screwed

"Please!" Sango begged.

"No is no!" The innkeeper proceeded to push the two out. "No money, no service! Now be gone!"

"Come on!" Kagome joined. "It's true we don't have any money, but we'll work for our stay! Please!"

The innkeeper looked at them skeptically. "I don't care. Now go before I call the official's soldiers."

Sango glared at him and growled. She took Kagome's arm and tugged her out of the inn. "Come on, Kagome. We don't need him."

Kagome righted herself and stuck her tongue out at the innkeeper just as the door shut in her face.

"Mama, why can't Kikyou play with me?" Souta looked expectantly at the queen. "I'm so bored."

Queen Higurashi contemplated whether or not to tell her son of Kikyou's deceased father. At last, she said, "Souta, Kikyou's father just passed away. She is very sad right now, so she can't play with you."

"But why?" the ever curious boy asked. "Then………when can she play with me?"

The queen stroked the young prince's hair. "I don't know………"

"Well then, I hope she stops being sad soon."

Queen Higurashi stared at a flower vase in her room. "I hope so too………"

'No place to stay………no money left………What is to become of us?' Kagome pondered as she and Sango dejectedly wandered through the Capital, mindless of everything else. "What is to become of us?" she repeated aloud.

Sango gave her a questioning stare. She had thought about it too. Kagome was right. What was to become of them? What would happen now?

The both of them sighed instantaneously. At the common act, they smiled. "Well, at least we still got each other. It's better than nothing," Sango suggested.

"Yeah." They both kept on walking, slowly and aimlessly. All the while, Kagome kept her head down.

"Hey." Sango gently nudged Kagome's arm. "Look at that."

Kagome lifted her head to see some people crowded around a bulletin board. "I wonder what it says………Let's check it out, Sango." Kagome let her legs propel her to the board.

"What does it say, Kagome?" Sango stared blankly at the calligraphy. In Goshinboku, only boys were permitted to learn to read.

"I don't know." Kagome could only make out "maid" and "palace." She herself did not know how to read, but could occasionally make out some words. "Excuse me, Mister, but what does that say?" Kagome politely asked the man next to her.

"Oh." The man turned to Kagome and Sango. "The palace does not have enough maids and is hiring now. It says that if you want to try out for position as a palace maid, you must go to the Official's house. There, they would give you a task you must do in a limited time. If you pass, they will recruit you as a palace maid. You will get no pay, but of course, there are other benefits to being a palace maid."

Sango's face rose with hope. "If I may ask, where is the Official's house?"

"It's near here. You see that road?" He pointed for indication. "Just walk straight until you see a big house bearing the name Myouga. Tell the soldiers you're applying for palace maids and they'll let you in."

For the first time since their misfortune that afternoon, Kagome smiled. "Thank you."

"I'm glad I could be of help." With that, the man left them standing.

"So………" Sango looked hopefully at Kagome.

Kagome responded with the same expression. "Let's go."

Queen Higurashi knocked politely on the screen door. "Kikyou, are you in there?"

A moment later, the squeaked open to reveal Kikyou's gloomy face. "You called for me, Your Majesty?"

The queen widened the door and invited herself in. "I'm worried about you, Kikyou. Your maids have told me you've refused to eat for three days. I know you are heartbroken, but you mustn't go on like this."

Kikyou nodded.

The queen continued. "Since you have no family left, I am making it my responsibility to care for you. I do not want to see you like this. Please lighten up. Tomorrow, you will move into the palace and live with me and Souta."

Again, Kikyou merely nodded. "Oh, Kikyou………" Queen Higurashi gathered Kikyou in her arms and embraced the cheerless girl.

Kagome stood erect, next to Sango as a plump woman inspected them. They were standing, in the Official's courtyard, aligned in a single row, with ten other girls who wished to apply for position of palace maids. The woman looked them up and down. Sango sighed as she passed her.

"You all will be given time until this incense burns out to do your assigned duties." The woman held up a fat stick of incense. "If you finish in time, then you are qualified. Otherwise than that, then you should know. I have no need to say more. Do you all understand?"

"Yes, ma'am."

Without further ado, she handed a sheet of directions to each of the girls. Kagome quickly glanced over hers and saw the long list of duties that she was to do. 'Oh hell………'

"Start your duties"—the woman raised a flaming candle and touched it to the tip of the incense—"now."

In the next hour, Kagome was in a flying frenzy. 'Dishes, groceries, sweep courtyards, wash laundry, scrub floors, chop onions and carrots, go to fish market, clean main room. Dishes, groceries, sweep courtyards, wash laundry, scrub floors, chop onions and carrots, go to fish market, clean main room. Dishes…' was all Kagome could dwell on as she scurried about to beat the incense. 'God, I think I'm gonna die………'

The woman stood watching as the incense began to die out. It was getting darker and darker as nightfall threatened to consume the sky.

Sango, who had finished all her duties, tiredly glanced around, but nowhere did she see Kagome. In the courtyard were only her and four other girls. 'God, Kagome, where are you? Hurry! Time's running out!'

"Five." The woman had started her countdown.

Sango's heart panicked and she glanced around once more. No Kagome.

"Four." Still no Kagome.

"Three."

'Where the hell are you!' Sango refrained from screaming her thought.

"Two—"

"I'm done!" an all-too-familiar voice shouted as a being took up the empty place beside Sango.

"One." The incense had quenched its flame. The woman stared expectantly at the six girls facing her. "As of now, all of you who stand here now are qualified. For the next two days, you will be guided on the rules of the palace. If you choose to remain here, you may sleep in the scullery maids' chambers. For now, you are dismissed." Saying all she had intended to say, she quickly hurried away.

Sango turned to the panting and sweaty Kagome. "Where the hell were you? Did you know how worried I was? Did you know how scared I was? I thought you'd never make it in time. I thought--"

Kagome brought a hand up to silence her friend. "Freakin………guy………" she tried to say in-between gaps.

Sango waited patiently for Kagome to regain some energy.

When she was done, Kagome continued, "I was at the nearby stream, washing clothes, and was just about done when some guy knocked over my basket with all the already washed clothes."

"Damn that guy." Sango shook her fist before her face.

Kagome nodded in agreement as she wiped her forehead. "And so, I had to rewash everything. As soon as I was done, I ran all the way here. Whew. I didn't think I made it."

Sango patted her shoulder. "Well guess what? You did."

Inuyasha positioned himself from comfortably on a tree and tried to sleep, but………

:jingle jingle jingle:

"Stop it," Inuyasha berated to the figure below. "I'm trying to sleep here, ya know." He was tired and he was sleepy. He was angry that they were broke; hence the reason they were sleeping outside.

"Alright." Miroku set his staff aside and stopped playing with it. He leaned it against the trunk of Inuyasha's tree. It was night and the moon was high in the sky. Unlike Inuyasha, he was nowhere sleepy.

It was just too quiet for Miroku. He had to make some noise.

So then…

:rap rap rap:

"Miroku!"

Miroku, in turn, stared up at Inuyasha. "Geez! Just because you want to sleep and all…" He stopped tapping his fingers against the tree roots. "Fine then, I'll be quiet. Are you happy now!"

Inuyasha ignored the comment as he once more shut his eyes closed. He allowed himself to bathe in the silence until five minutes later………

"Inuyasha, I'm cold."

"So?" AGAIN, Inuyasha tried to sleep. Only………

:chatter chatter chatter:

Inuyasha had had it. No more. His eyes shot open. "Stop the freakin sounds!"

Miroku glared up at Inuyasha once again. "I'M COLD, DAMMIT! WHAT'S YOUR PROBLEM!"

Inuyasha could do nothing but sigh. It was gonna be a looong night………

(A/N: If u dint quite get it, Miroku was playing with his staff, thus the jingling, couldn't sleep n so tapped on a tree to make sounds, thus the rapping, and his teeth were chattering because he was cold. .)

­For Kagome and Sango, the next two days were full of lectures and boring activities. The woman—which they later found out was the chief maid of the palace—had them memorize palace rules and regulations. Things you should do, things you shouldn't—things you better not if you wanted to keep your life. She explained what chores they had to do each day and if ever a noble or anyone of higher status spoke to them, what they should say.

It was all so boring, Kagome found herself falling asleep. Luckily, Sango jerked her awake just as the chief maid glanced their way.

"Kagome," she called out. "What is the first thing you do if you see a noble walk by?"

Kagome blinked a few times to clear away the sleep. "Bow to acknowledge them, Maaya-san," she managed.

"Correct." She turned to the rest of the girls. "Tomorrow, I shall bring you to the palace. Now, come up here and get your uniform."

"Hand it over." Miroku held out his hand to an old man, waiting for the clinking sounds of three gold sticks.

Reluctantly, the man extracted three sticks and shoved it towards him. "It was just luck."

Inuyasha scoffed. "Luck? Well, excuse me, old man, but in the cricket world, there's no such thing as luck." He gave a cocky smile. "Just skill."

At Inuyasha's performance, Miroku coughed and turned away, stashing the money safely within his clothes. A moment later, as the two exited the teahouse for the second time since they reached Shikon Capital, Inuyasha exclaimed, "That was an easy catch."

"Way too easy," Miroku chimed in. "I knew the first time I saw his cricket that victory would be mine—I mean, ours." He smiled most sincere of smiles.

Walking down the busy marketplace, Inuyasha raised his brow. "Of course."

Miroku thought about how lucky it was that Inuyasha had found another cricket that morning. They had made their way back to the teahouse and had dueled with an old geezer, who in turn won them three gold sticks. 'At least we don't have to sleep outside anymore,' he mused happily. 'Yesterday was freakin cold………'

The two strolled in silence as they watched life carry itself in the marketplace. People rushed about with their business. Merchants and consumers discussed products and argued over prices. Ah, it was a beautiful, regular morning. Or at least until………

"OH MY—! IS THAT YOU, LORD INUYASHA?"

Inuyasha and Miroku sped around so fast, they could have gotten whiplash. To their horror, they came face to face with………

"MYOUGA!"

When they were all settled down and sipping tea at a rather handsome restaurant, Myouga asked, "So, what brings you two here to Shikon Capital?"

Miroku and Inuyasha exchanged glances. "Uh………"

They couldn't tell him they were running away………er………have run, technically………He'd indubitably force them to go back…

"Visiting," Miroku decided, trying to sound as casual as he could.

"An old friend………" Inuyasha helped.

"Oh? Really?" Myouga looked interested. Both companions prayed he wouldn't ask who the friend was. But as luck had it…"Who?"

Miroku gulped. "Uh………you wouldn't know even if we told you………besides………" He made sure Myouga wasn't watching and kicked Inuyasha's shin to prompt him to answer. Only, he kind of………accidentally kicked harder than he meant to.

"OW!" Inuyasha screamed, surprised of the pain inflicted on his leg. Seeing Myouga's worried face, he quickly added, "A bug!" to cover any suspicion and reached his hand down to rub the injured leg.

"A bug?" Myouga knitted his eyebrows together in worry.

"Yeah!" Inuyasha confirmed, not forgetting to glance dangerously in his assailant's direction. "A—A bug just bit me!"

"Where?" Myouga stood up and leaned over.

Inuyasha hurriedly held up his hand and guided the old man back to his seat. "No no, I'm okay now. I already killed it," he lied.

"Oh, okay then," Myouga said, convinced.

"Uh, so yeah," Inuyasha continued, picking up on the former subject, "this friend had moved when we got here."

Myouga nodded, having already disregarded the previous incident. "That's just too bad then." He sipped his tea and poured some more into his dainty cup. "How long have you been here?"

"Three—"

"And a half—"

"Days," Inuyasha finished for the two. Well, at least that part was true………

Myouga's brows rose. "Really now? I've been all over the capital around that number of days and I didn't see you? I can't believe that. Where did you stay?" He gazed quizzically at the two.

Indeed. Inuyasha didn't know how to answer. So, he took the teakettle and poured some tea into his cup and Miroku's. As the liquid smoothly slid into Miroku's cup, Inuyasha locked eyes with him, silently indicated to Miroku to improvise something.

Miroku cleared his throat and turned back to Myouga, deciding to the first thing that popped in his mind. "Um………at the inn near the entrance of town?"

Myouga formed his mouth in a big 'O'. "No wonder I didn't see you. So, how long do you plan on staying here, Lord Inuyasha?"

The said hanyou answered with perfect ease. "Well, we don't know, actually. I mean, now that our friend has moved. We don't know what to do."

"You can always go back home," he suggested.

"But that's why we left," Miroku countered. "It was too………stuffy there."

Myouga nodded. "I see." He thought for a moment. "I know! Since you two don't wish to return home yet, you can come with me to the palace! I'm sure King Higurashi would be more than delighted to see you! You can also get better acquainted with your betrothed, Lady Kikyou!"

Miroku sweat-dropped.

"Hehe…" Inuyasha nervously laughed. No, he didn't want to go to the Higurashi court. No, he didn't want to see What's-her-name. He was running away from the marriage, not towards it………no………please………

"We can't do that," Miroku rescued.

"Why not?" Myouga switched his attention to Miroku.

"We can't do that," he repeated. "It's just………not right. It would be too much a bother. You probably have a lot going on. We don't want to be a burden."

"Never!" Myouga shouted, banging his fist on the table once. "Burden? Of course not! What a foolish fallacy! You will come to the palace with me tomorrow! Burden? Gah!"

"No, Myouga, we can't!" Inuyasha tried to counter. "We'd love to, but—"

"Yeah!" Miroku interrupted. "What he said!"

"Exactly!" Myouga just firmly crossed his arms. "You are guests here in Shikon. Heck, you're the Tama prince! It is my rightful duty, and so I shall serve you well."

"Brace yourself, ladies," Maaya-san remarked to the two rows of three girls in front of her. They were standing before the palace gate.

'Whoa,' Kagome thought as her eyes traveled to the huge gate. 'Twenty………twenty-five feet high,' she estimated. 'Wow.' She could see nothing beyond the gate, for the walls were equally high.

"We will enter the palace now." Maaya-san walked over to the two soldiers who were positioned at the gate and spoke to them. A moment later, Kagome watched as the soldiers nodded and with much strength, opened it. Maaya-san waved to the girls. "Come."

Walking in their line, the girls complied.

Sango straightened her pink and yellow robe, the uniform colors of Shikon, and followed behind a red-haired girl. Entering the palace for the first time in her life, she was shocked speechless as a vast, beautiful courtyard met her view. Flowers decorated the walkways and bridges. Under the bridges and aisles was a dark-green pond with goldfish swimming around. Thick poles held up each passageway. There were occasional spots where stone tables and chairs were set up, providing more to the scenery. Sango looked over at Kagome and saw the same reaction.

"This is the smallest of all the courtyards in this palace," Maaya-san pointed out as she led the expedition over one of the bridges.

'No kidding,' Kagome thought, barely refraining from voicing it.

"As you see, it is very easy to get lost here," Maaya-san continued. "However, you must not let that happen if you wish to keep your life. I will tell you now that this palace is divided into four wings, the North Wing, the South Wing, the East Wing, and the West Wing. In the North Wing are the royal quarters. You are not to go there unless strictly told so. Do you understand?"

"Yes, ma'am," chorused the group.

As they continued on, Kagome glanced back at the courtyard once more, and then returned her gaze ahead. Now, she could see they were approaching buildings shaped very much liked that of the Official's house; which had elegant cream-colored walls and orange-tiled, pointy roofs that curved upward.

"Now," Maaya-san continued, "the East Wing. That is where the Higurashi ancestral shrine is located. In there are the names of previous kings and ancestors of the royal family. The South Wing is the dungeon. However, you do not need to worry about any of these wings except for the West Wing, where you will be staying and working. The servant quarters are part of this wing."

The next day, Inuyasha and Miroku found themselves in the Higurashi court, standing just behind Myouga. They were in the Higurashi throne room with the king before them.

Myouga bowed low to the king, high on his throne. "Your Majesty, look who I found when I was scouting the capital yesterday!" He moved aside to reveal Inuyasha.

At the sight of him, King Higurashi gasped. "Ah! Inuyasha! What a pleasant surprise!" He stood up and walked down a few steps down from his golden throne, towards Inuyasha.

Inuyasha bowed to the king, leaving Miroku to follow suit. "Y-Yes, Your Highness." Damn, he wasn't ready for this! In front of King Higurashi, no less! Sure, he'd been here before, but always with his father, who'd always done the talking. Inuyasha rarely ever addressed the Higurashi King.

King Higurashi stopped in front of Inuyasha and gripped his shoulder tightly with his hand. "My, look at the man you've become!"

From aside, Miroku rolled his eyes. 'Man my ass………'

"So, what brings you all the way here?" the king asked. He withdrew his hand.

"Where just visiting a friend who we knew lived in these parts," Inuyasha repeated the lie. "But he moved and we found Myouga instead, who insisted we stay here."

"Ah, that is fine!" the king remarked enthusiastically. "I'm glad he did!"

Inuyasha smiled uncertainly, a rather phony smile, knowing nothing else to do. Just then, a messenger rushed into the court and kneeled before the king. "My Lord, the queen wishes to speak with you."

King Higurashi merely nodded. "Alright." Turning to Inuyasha, he informed, "Your rooms have already been prepared for you. We shall talk some other time. For now, rest yourselves. Myouga will direct you to your chambers."

Myouga once again bowed. "Yes, My Lord."

Inuyasha and Miroku did the same before exiting the throne room.

Souta peered around the courtyard, making sure no one was in sight before he settled behind a bush and set down a square-shaped box. He looked casually around once more to double-check. No maids. Good.

Uncovering the lid of the box, he brought into view a healthy brown mouse. He reached into his kimono and took out a small piece of cheese and began to feed it.

"I'm so bored everyday," the young prince whispered to the mouse. "Mama can't play with me. Kikyou can't either, and certainly not the maids. They keep saying they have too much work, but they're really afraid that hey might get in trouble if they play with me and I get hurt or something. So, there's only you left, mouse," he confided.

The mouse nibbled on the cheese. Souta continued. "If they ever find you, then I'm done for. It's an un-princely thing to do, you know, keeping a mouse and all. And other animals. I could get in trouble and get scolded a lot. But they won't find you. Or I hope they don't………" The mouse had finished its food. Souta petted it affectionately.

"YOUNG PRINCE!" a voice shrieked. "WHERE ARE YOU?"

"AHH!" Surprised by the voice, Souta instantly shot up. In the quick action, he accidentally flipped over the box containing the mouse, setting it free. "Oh no! Come back!" But the mouse was already gone, had already disappeared behind the many bushes of the courtyard.

"What on earth are you doing, Prince?" The maid was now towering above the small boy, taking in the box lying on the ground.

­Kagome was found sweeping one of the palace's many elegant courtyards. As she did, she went over her newly assigned duties. "So, wake at dawn. Go to the royal chef, who will then give me a list of what to buy. Go to the market. Sweep my assigned courtyards. Wash and dry clothes that needs it, and tons of other stuff." Kagome grimaced. It was too much work, in her opinion. She reminded herself that not only must she complete her chores, but also occasional requests from people of higher status. Like if a higher ranked maid couldn't do something, she could shove it at Kagome and Kagome would have to do it, regardless of anything.

"Yeah," Kagome said sarcastically. "This is the life." Having done sweeping her portion of the courtyard, Kagome carelessly turned around and bumped into someone. Kagome looked up to see a girl who looked almost identical to herself, maybe a little taller. The girl was about the same age as her and dressed in elaborate robes…

"Hey, watch where you're going!" berated the maid standing next the girl. By a small emblem on the maid's uniform, Kagome noticed this maid was higher ranked than her. "You bumped into Lady Kikyou!"

Kagome quickly bowed. "Please! I'm really sorry!" She couldn't believe her luck. Her first day and she had just royally screwed up. She could only hope that this Lady Kikyou, clearly a noble of some sort, would forgive her for her recklessness and not pursue the matter. Kagome knew that there were some nobles who didn't'. "I'm really sorry! I'll be more careful next time!"

Kikyou just looked at this new girl who had her features with curiosity and indifference.

"You better!" the maid scolded, "Next time, I'll report you to Maaya-san!"

Kagome bowed again. "I'm really sorry!"

Kikyou glanced at the girl once more out of the corner of her eye, then added coldly, "Make sure it doesn't happen again." With that, she "humph"ed and walked on, leaving Kagome behind. As she did, she couldn't dismiss the feeling of dislike for the girl………

Kagome let out a relieved sigh as she watched Kikyou disappear. 'Remind myself never to do that again,' she silently scolded. 'Damn, that was a close one!'

A short moment later, Kagome found herself in front of a room, located in the North Wing. Yep, the North Wing. For today, and only today, Maaya-san had allowed and instructed her into the wing to prepare the room she currently stood before for an important guest. Whoever the guest was, she didn't know. She didn't care to know.

Kagome sighed. She stepped up a few steps of stairs and approached the room with a bucket of water, a feather duster, and two washcloths. Once she was before it, she pushed the doors open and let herself in, sneezing once. It was a dusty room, one that probably hasn't been used for some time now. Just her luck to get stuck with this job.

The room was square-ish and large. On the left side of the room stood a bed. On the right was a closet and shelves displaying expensive artifacts and vases. In the center of the room was a round table covered with a tablecloth that reached all the way down to the tiled floor.

The first thing Kagome did was dust the bed. She slammed the pillow against it a few times to rid it of dust and dirt, then cleanly rearranged the pillows and blanket.

When she was done with that, she preceded to wipe the table and scrub the floors. She did not notice as a small little mouse sneaked its way into her room.

"This is your room, Master Miroku." Myouga approached a room and pushed open the screen doors to reveal a clean, bright room.

"Why thank you," Miroku civilly replied as he and Inuyasha entered it. In the middle was a round table, where they both gratefully took a seat.

Myouga bowed. "Lord Inuyasha, your chamber is two rooms to the right of Master Miroku's."

Inuyasha nodded. "Thanks, Myouga."

"Not a problem. I will leave you to your leisure. If you need anything, just give a call and a servant will assist you."

Having said enough, the old man backed out of the room.

Kagome hummed to herself as she finished wiping the last of the vases. Yes! She was done at last! Carefully, she set the vase back on the shelf it came. She released the washcloth she was holding.

Walking over to the bucket of water sitting on the table, she rinsed her hands. Now, time to gather her stuff and continue with other chores………BUMMER………

Making her way back to the shelf, she took the washcloth that she had previously placed down. Unfortunately, a piece of the cloth was stuck under the vase, but Kagome did not notice. As she yanked on it, the beautiful china vase came crashing down.

"No!" Kagome sprang to catch the falling vase, but to no avail. The crash reverberated throughout the room.

Kagome stood gaping at the shattered pieces. "Oh no………" It was her first day, and not only had she screwed up once, but twice. "You stupid, stupid girl," she scolded herself for her careless action. She'd get kick out of the palace for sure. More like beheaded………

"Sounds like that crash came from that room," she heard a voice say.

Her heart quickened its pace and she began to panic. She glanced at the screen door and could see two shadows approaching, which accelerated her heart rate all the more. What if they came in and saw the broken vase? They'd know it was she who had broken it, for she was the only one in the room.

"I dunno. Let's check it out."

Without thinking and driven by fear, Kagome dived under the table, grateful for the long length of the tablecloth. She sat on her knees and clasped her hands together in a praying motion, squeezing her eyes tightly shut. 'Please don't come in. Please don't come in. Please don't come in.' She prayed with all her heart to any god who would listen.

But as luck had it………

Kagome jumped when the doors burst open. She pressed her hands to her mouth so she wouldn't make any sounds. She could feel each and every footstep that was taken, and it seemed to be getting closer and closer.

"Hmm, I don't see anything wrong," the first voice said.

"Well, if you would turn around," the other voice pointed out. Familiarity overcame Kagome for a moment. She had heard that voice somewhere, she knew.

More footsteps. Kagome snapped out of her reverie. The first figure must have turned around, she decided.

"Hey look! There's a broken vase! It's probably what was causing the crash!"

"Duh! Probably some maid broke it while cleaning it. Look. She even left her cleaning stuff here on the table, so it's evident. Probably got scared and left."

Kagome felt a surge of rage at the comment. Scared? Yes, she admitted, she was. BUT SHE HAD NOT LEFT! SHE WAS STILL THERE! Even if she was under a table………

"Well, in all cases, what's done is done."

Footsteps in her direction. 'No,' Kagome prayed. 'Leave. Don't sit down. Leave. God, please leave…'

A moment later, pair of covered knees was shoved carelessly under the table. It was all Kagome could do to keep from shouting. 'Oh God…help me…' She inched as far away as she could from the knees.

"I'm gonna go get someone to clean this mess up," the first voice stated and left.

"Whatever."

Kagome held her breath. 'Leave, dammit, so I can get outta here!' She crossed her arms over her chest and waited. And waited. And waited. But the owner of knees made no move to leave.

Still, she waited. What else was she to do?

Just then, Kagome's ears detected a small squeak near her. Whipping her head around to the cause of the sounds, she saw a fat, brown mouse—and to make it worse, it was right next to her.

This time, she screamed. In an almost inhuman speed, she scrambled out from under the table. The mouse lifted its head and followed her.

"GET IT AWAY! GET IT AWAY!" She pointed menacingly at the mouse. "NOW!" Kagome HATED mice. Mice of all sorts. They were the most disgusting, ugly, repugnant, dirty, monstrous creatures that ever lived. "JUST GET IT AWAY!" she screamed.

"WHAT THE—" The owner of the knees shot up from his chair and stared at the cowering girl before him. He could not make out her face, for she kept it covered in her arms. "WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT!"

"THAT MOUSE!" Kagome equally returned.

"WHERE?"

"THERE!" She pointed in the direction of the mouse without looking up, in fear of finding it coming towards her.

The guy looked around and spotted the mouse a few feet from the cowering girl. Taking a washcloth that was on the table, he flung it at the mouse and watched as it scattered out the door.

"It's gone," the guy informed her in an annoyed tone.

Kagome lifted her head and turned to face her rescuer. What she saw left her gaping in utter shock.

The boy—the very arrogant, conceited silver-haired jerk—apparently, had recognized her too.

"YOU AGAIN!"