A/N: So, it is kinda AU since while rewatching the Final Act I found that around the graduation/end battle with Naraku Hojo was unaware of Inuyasha and stuff. So he couldn't investigate. I also kinda write it when they're in high school and Hojo attends the same school as the girls (in canon he went to all-boy school).
At first I was trying to fit the story in the canon, but I really wanted to write it after the 160th episode and when Kagome's friends already saw Inuyasha, but didn't know much about him and had the truth mixed in with Kagome's misleading confessions and their predictions. Hence I had to make this story into an AU and make the quest for the jewel shards longer than it was in real.
So - in short words - the quest is still going, Kagome's in her first year of high school. Hojo is very good at not noticing stuff that doesn't fit in his world view and the trio is still very interested in Kagome's love life.
.Also - Merry holidays, you guys!

3. Friends Know Best

Hojo sighed. He was sitting under a tree, watching Higurashi and her three friends chatting joyfully about something girly. Since yesterday he couldn't think about anything else than the poor girl pulled in the unhappy relationship with the bad boy.

He had heard Yuka, Eri and Ayumi a few times when they had talked about the bad boy who had been a close friend - they had said 'boyfriend' - of Higurashi's. They had been worried about her mental health, her safety, her heart... And now they were all sitting there and none seemed worried. Were they just playing to make Higurashi feel better? That must be it! Oh, they were such good, caring friends!

When he was thinking this Hojo realized tha if there was someone knowing - and willing to tell him - about that gang boy those three were those people. After all Higurashi had been telling them about him for a while now. From what he knew from crime books and movies and from some stuff his uncle - a policeman - had told him, the good research was a half of a success. One had to know everything about their opponent. Hojo reached for his bag and forget a plan while approaching the four schoolgirls.

.

This was how after the school day was over Hojo found himself and three of the previously mentioned girls in a fast food restaurant, gathered around their favourite table.

"It's a pity Kagome couldn't come with us," sighed the boy while putting a tray with boxes of french fries and sandwiches on the table. The trio nodded and hummed in agreement.

"She had already planned to meet..." Yuka fell silent, as if realizing she was about to say something he shouldn't hear. Hojo noticed, but decided to not ask her about this right now. Instead he sat down and they started eating, each sipping their favourite drink. They were talking pleasantly about school-related topics for a while, Hojo wanted everyone to relax before starting asking his sneaky questions.

"I was planning to visit Higurashi today and help her with chemistry, we have a test coming up and she seems to have problems catching up," he said. Yuka and Eri looked at him in silence, but Ayumi shook her head.

"Today is a bad idea, Inuyasha's visiting," she replied. Hojo remembered this name - Higurashi had used it a few times. It was obviously a nickname or a gang name, no sane parent would call their child 'dog youkai'. Eri glared at Ayumi, who shrugged her shoulders. "What? Would you rather have Hojo going to Kagome's home and meet him there?"

"Hm..." Eri tilted her head. "Maybe it'd be better that way?"

"Like they'd fight for her or something..."

The girls looked down, obviously imagining the scene. Hojo easily imagined himself telling the other boy he was a bad influence and that Higurashi deserved a better company. But was he really to confront this delinquent boy? The one who had positively claimed Kagome as his girlfriend when she was obviously dating someone already - namely Hojo himself?

"Who's Inuyasha?" asked Hojo innocently, causing the trio to look at him.

"He's Kagome's boyfriend," started Ayumi, but Yuka nudged her with her elbow. "What?"

"We didn't actually hear them confirm that they're together!" she exclaimed.

"But they didn't deny it either," Ayumi pouted.

"That's because Kagome is so shy and secretive, and we had seen Inuyasha like three times in total. Give them time," Eri waved a french fry at them and turned to Hojo. "So, you see, they're somewhere around being officially a couple. We weren't sure their relationship was going to work, but it seems they solved their issues somehow..."

"And since Inuyasha is rarely in town..."

"And Kagome is sick so often..."

"...It's better to let them spend as much time as they can together."

"We're sorry..."

"I'm sure Kagome will talk to you about it when she gets a while. With all her illnesses and catching up with the school work..."

"...Yeah..."

"They're so cute together, you must meet Inuyasha one day!"

Hojo couldn't believe his ears. He looked at the trio who mere months ago had told him about a bad boy who had been sticking around Kagome and who had been violent and possessive. And now they were talking about this Inuyasha being Higurashi's boyfriend as if all the information about him being a two-timer with foul mouth and bad attitude were irrelevant.

"But...Isn't he the boy you told me about?" he asked. "The one you told me that is trying to steal Higurashi from under my nose? While having a girlfriend already?"

"Um..." said Eri. "You see, Hojo, things were more complicated than we knew..."

"Isn't he the delinquent bad boy who swears and is violent?" he continued.

"Well. he's pretty gruff and can put more swear words n a sentence than a sailor..." admitted Yuka.

"Isn't he the boy who is possessive and controlling?" he finished. After all their previous descriptions of the bad boy were right on spot. Why were they acting like this now? This was the same person and Hojo knew for a fact how this Inuyasha was treating Higurashi.

"Well..." suddenly Ayumi fell silent and stared at something behind Hojo's back. All four of them looked that way and they saw through the window a pair walking down a sidewalk across the street.

Hojo saw a girl in a blue dress, with a waterfall of dark hair falling down her back. She was walking beside a tall boy dressed in a pair of baggy jeans and a red shirt, with silver hair tied in a ponytail and with a basketball cap on his head. The boy was holding a few boxes and multiple bags were hanging from his elbows. The boy felt Yuka's hand touch his shoulder.

"Come, we'll introduce you!" she encouraged him to follow her and the two other girls who already stood up and were walking towards the door. Hojo followed slowly after the girls, trying to understand why their attitude towards Inuyasha changed so drastically. A few moths ago Yuka and Eri had been telling him he had a chance to win Higurashi's heart. Now all three of them were apparently hoping Higurashi's relationship with that boy could work. That was insane and Hojo was too confused to worry about facing his rival for Higurashi's heart. He had to find the truth hidden behind all those lies. He knew that he could reveal it and was sure it'd change everything.

"It will be so much fun!" he could hear the girls giggle.

He walked after the girls running to stop the walking couple - Higurashi seemed embarrassed, but she waved her hand and said something to the boy at her side. He glared at the approaching women, but stopped and half turned to them, scowling.

Hojo took a deep breath. After all he wanted to learn more about this Inuyasha guy. Maybe this was not a bad thing to meet him face to face? Definitely it'd be better to observe and analyze his words and actions instead of the words of the three Higurashi's friends. They were obviously mistaken, probably by an excellent acting on Inuyasha's part. And his good looks - Hojo noticed all three of them were giving Inuyasha's bare muscled arms and exotic features appreciating looks.

The school boy gave the gang member a disapproving glance. He could have some muscles here and there, but it was nothing compared to his good looks, excellent grades and flawless manners. And even if Higurashi's friends were calling him her boyfriend Hojo was sure that he could win his girl back.

After all who would want to be a girlfriend of a dangerous, bad-tempered boy like this one carrying Higurashi's bags?

A/N; It seems Hojo can't count of Kagome's friends to help him in his pursuit of the truth. They're obviously deceived by the cunning, handsome liar Inuyasha, led into believing he isn't as bad as he really is. Hojo is a lone fighter for truth, justice and the heart of Kagome.
How the meeting of those two will look like? Will Hojo witness something? Will Inuysha get suspicious?
How was this chapter? I hope it wasn't very bad, I'm fighting my migraine, but I really wanted to show it to you, so yeah.