Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha

Beta: Lillian

Scientific Method

Chapter 65

Kagome walked out of the classroom, a bright smile on her face. At her side, Hojo's face mirrored hers. They were extremely happy.

"At last," the brown haired boy said as he stretched, "We graduated."

At his side Kagome eagerly nodded, and running in a small circle and bouncing with energy. Her hair was longer, reaching her hips, and it flew about. Hojo watched her with a small, heartfelt smile.

"How's Sesshomaru?" Kagome asked softly, her brown eyes turning melancholic from one second to the other.

The boy sighed knowingly and plastered on a smile. "The same," he said after a moment's pause, "He's silent and solitary. He keeps to his rooms, mostly."

Kagome nodded knowingly and reassuringly patted Hojo's shoulder. "So, what are we going to do to celebrate?"

Hojo shrugged sheepishly. "I don't know."

Kagome rolled her eyes and tapped her chin, about to think of a place to hang out, but her cell phone chose that moment to buzz in her pocket. She took it and placed it close to her lips, a grin already set. "Hello, uncle!"

A frustrated cry roared from the phone, and Kagome laughed, "There there, no need to be like this Inuyasha…you're too old for this. It isn't good for your health."

"Health my ass!" was all they could hear from the phone.

Kagome shook her head and finally pressed the phone to her ear, "So, what happened? Why aren't you calling your pup?" mocked Kagome. Inuyasha cursed again, exasperated by her continuous nagging, but this only served to make Kagome laugh harder. "All right, I get it… Hojo is not your son."

Hojo rolled his eyes again. The constant bickering always served to amuse him. Poor Inuyasha. Ever since Hojo told Kagome he didn't know who his father was- Rin never talked about him other than to say he was a great man—the young miko had stated that Inuyasha was, undoubtedly, his father. Inuyasha would growl and cry out that Hojo had no drop of demon blood in his veins, but Kagome always shot back that he could have conceived him during his human night. Then they would insult each other and continue bickering.

It was a nice change. Kagome brought the funny Inuyasha to the surface more often than anyone else. He knew Inuyasha was glad to have his friend back. To him, it was like a journey to his youth.

Hojo knew Inuyasha had married a human century ago, but he never spoke of her. He was also aware that Kagome and Inuyasha had a thing for each other in the past, but they didn't speak about it either. Technically speaking, it also seemed as if Kagome and Sesshomaru had something going too. This was a mess…a real mess, but try as he might, he could do nothing else but laugh and have fun with them around. He had grown to love them all with time, and regardless of what Inuyasha said, he did consider the hanyou his father. He just…never said anything about it.

"Fine," said Kagome, hand on her hip, "I'll let you treat me to dinner."

"You allow me? Stupid kid! I won't take you anywhere now! See if I care that you graduated at all! With all those absences! That school is no good at all!"

Hojo chuckled then when he noted Kagome's furious gaze. "What? That was in middle school! You jerk! Plus, need I remind you I was saving your sorry ass back in the Feudal Era?"

"I was saving your sorry ass! You were never any good!"

Hojo shook her head and walked over to Kagome, snatching her cell phone with remarkable deftness. "Inuyasha." After hearing his voice, the hanyou calmed down some. "Yes, I will always make sure to bring my phone," said Hojo with a roll of his eyes. "Okay, we'll wait there. See you soon." Finally, Hojo closed the phone and handed it back to Kagome.

Kagome glared at him, cheeks still red with her subsiding irritation. She pocketed her cell phone and started walking out of school.

Hojo followed the grumpy, growly girl. "So, did you send the applications?"

Kagome stopped then, a tense set to her shoulders, "No," she said softly, her eyes looking up at the sky.

Hojo stopped at her side, "But…the deadline was two days ago," he questioned. They had been talking about college and things lately and she had been excited. "What happened?"

Kagome merely shrugged her shoulders, turned to him, and smiled. "I will resume my job," she said, and at his blank look she rolled her eyes. "The one I left off five hundred years ago?"

Realization dawned. "The Jewel shards?" he asked and frowned. "Do you know where to look?"

Kagome shook her head and pursed her lips, "I need only wait," she explained. "I will work as a miko, vanquishing hateful youkai and spirits. The shards will come as soon as rumors spread. Someone will try for them."

Hojo nodded, knowing she was right, but sad about everything. "That will be dangerous," he said, but knowing she wasn't going to change her mind, sighed. "I will be going to college alone."

Kagome grinned, then, and smacked his arm playfully, "Ah, don't be like that. Your girl will be attending the same college," She couldn't help but laugh at the blush that came over his face. "Go get her Romeo!"

To be continued...

JeniNeji's Note:

I did try to update earlier today but FFnet didn't let me. Sorry!