Chapter Twelve: Smoke and Mirrors

Kagome sat in the lunchroom with her friends as she continued to think over what happened last night.

"Kagome?" Ayumi asked as she leaned over the side of the table to look at her. "You look tired. Let me guess… you've been up all night right?"

Kagome just shrugged, "I've had a lot on my mind lately." She then thought to herself, 'Like dealing with an incredibly handsome vampire who's obsessed to your blood.'

"You mean Hojo?" asked Yuka wisely.

"Not exa… hey wait, Hojo?" Kagome said quickly. "What do you mean by Hojo?"

"Isn't why you've been so down lately?" Eri asked surprised. "Because you haven't been out on a date with Hojo yet?"

Kagome's mouth dropped open in horror. "NO!" she cried out so loudly that half the lunchroom went quiet and began to stare at her. (And anyone who's been in a high school lunchroom should know how loud it can be)

Great, not only was she tired and angry, but now she's embarrassed. She put her head down on the table and asked, "Why does my life have to be so complicated?"

"Kagome, if you didn't want to go out with Hojo, then why did you chose to be his girlfriend?" Yuka asked confused.

"I didn't!" Kagome almost shouted raising her head to look at her incredulity. "I never even answered him. Why do you think that I would…?"

"Because Hojo's been going around saying that you're his girlfriend now," Aymui said as if it was obvious. "In fact, it's starting to get really annoying."

Kagome slammed her head down on the table again, "I'm going to kill him."

Her friends just began to pat her on the back sympathetically.

Yuka then asked, "Kagome? Why do you hate Hojo so much?"

"I don't," Kagome answered. "I mean… Hojo's a great guy. He polite, sweet, kind, and I know that he would never mistreat a girl…"

"But?" Eri cut it.

"But he's not my type. I mean… his grades are amazing but, come on. How can someone so smart be so dense?"

"Well," Eri said in an agreeing tone. "I admit that he's not the brightest crayon in the box but he's cute."

"Not handsome though," added Yuka.

"Yeah, and he's got no common sense," Ayumi said.

As her friends argued, Kagome began to daydream. Why wouldn't Hojo leave her alone? Sure he's charming and kind, but she just wasn't attracted to him other than as a friend. She wanted to just stay friends with him and that's all. Why couldn't he see that?

'Wonder what Inuyasha's signal is,' she thought.

*Flashback*

"I'm sorry," she said. She sounded so sincere that his head snapped over to look at her.

"For what?" he asked amazed. "If there's anyone here who should be sorry, it should be me."

"I know," Kagome said softly. "I don't know why… but I just can't help but apologize. I don't know what for… I just want to… I want to help you."

"You can't help me. I told you before, I've been a vampire for a long time. We just keep going…"

"We?" Kagome repeated. "So there ARE more of you? How many? Where do you all live? What are you all doing here? How long have you've been vampires? How come…"

"Man, you ask as much questions as Rin does," Inuyasha said shaking his head.

"Rin?" Kagome echoed. "Who's Rin? Is she a vampire?"

"Yeah, I guess you can say that she was going to be my brother's wife but…"

"Your brother? You've got a brother?"

"Is there an echo here?" Inuyasha said annoyed. "Look, it's not my place to say here. But we'll talk again tomorrow ok?"

"Why not tonight?" Kagome demanded getting angry at him avoiding her questions.

"'Cause you look like you're about to pass out from lack of sleep," Inuyasha said. And sure enough, Kagome's eyelids began to droop.

"No I'm not," she said as she began to sway all of a sudden. Luckily, Inuyasha steadied her before leading her back to the car.

"I'll take you home. And I promise that we'll talk tomorrow. Just wait for my signal," he said.

"What signal?" she demanded.

Inuyasha just grinned. "You'll know it when you see it."

*End of Flashback*

"Kagome? Kagome? Hey Kagome, are you paying attention?" Ayumi asked as she shook Kagome's shoulder to bring her out of her daydream.

"Hmm?" Kagome said as she shook herself back to the present. "What is it now?"

"Kagome, didn't you just notice that the lights dimmed for a minute?" Eri asked surprised as she looked up at the ceiling at the lights.

"The lights dimmed?" Kagome asked with a slight smile. "Well in that case, no need to panic, it was probably just another execution in Texas."

Her friends gave her a quick smile before the lights began to flicker on and off. Kagome and the girls all stood up and looked around them in concern.

"What in the world…" Eri began before she was interrupted by the sound of breaking windows and the room began to fill with a strange mist-like smoke. As the students began to scream and run around in a panic, Kagome felt a pair of hands gently touching the sides of her neck.

"Hey Kagome?" whispered an deep voice that Kagome knew even though she only heard it several times.

"Inu-Inuyasha?" Kagome croaked.

"Yours truly," Inuyasha whispered. "Ready to go?"