23. Rivalry

Hojo knew he had a rival. But he was a smart, brave man, determined to win the love of the girl he loved. He knew what to do - he had to show her he was worthy of her affections. He had to show her the other male was not good enough for her, his beautiful angel, gentle and warm like a summer breeze.

So he used his natural charm to make Kagome agree to spend a day with him and the other boy. He prepared very well for this Saturday, knowing that he had to show this boy once and for all that this heavanly maiden was a flowee too delicate for his rough hands. It would be easy - he could win her family's favor with his gifts and politeness and let his masculine charm and good looks make Kagome want nothing more than to be his girlfriend. He was a superior male and he was determined to put his rival in his place - far from his Kagome.

This was why he was knocking to Kagome's door, a wide smile on his face, a bunch of flowers in his hand. When Kagome's mother opened the door she invited him in and led him to the living room. He sat down and looked at the people gathered there while the woman went to make some tea for them. It seemed his rival had came here just a few minutes ago, but Hojo wasn't worried, he himself came exactly at the time he was supposed to. Being too early was impolite.

His arch enemy was squatting beside an old looking chest, dressed in traditional clothes and with a scarf tied around his head, his white hair unruly and a cocky grin on his face. On the other side of the chest was sitting Kagome's grandfather, taking out of it various objects wrapped in old rags. Hojo was looking in silence at the pair, who barely noticed him, busy unwrapping old looking teacups and plates. Then the old man exclaimed in excitement and started to take out of the chest... Other stuff. Before Hojo's horrified eyes the old priest started to put beside the tea cups pieces of youkai - tails, paws, fangs, bones and horns, talking excitedly with the boy in red clothes. Hojo frowned at the stuff - obviously fake - while the boy was naming every piece of rubbish landing on the table. It was quite unusual for the old man to ignore Hojo like this, but it seemed that this Inuyasha guy knew his weakness - the fondness for all weird and spiritual things. It was just a bunch of cheap trinkets, nothing as cool as Hojo's Atlas of Unusual Illnesses the boy wanted to give Kagome's grandfather. It seemed that Inuyasha wrapped this one member of Kagome's family around his finger, but Hojo was pretty sure he wouldn't get the rest to like him more than him.

"It is so cool!" Souta ran down the stairs and joined the duo after saying hi to Hojo. The boy started to chat with them excitedly and Hojo felt he was totally forgotten. Until Kagome's mother returned from the kitchen with a tea pot and cups for everyone.

"Take off the table all the treasures," she said and the three males quickly cleaned the table. She poured tea and offered everyone a cup. She sat beside him and they were talking politely for a minute before Hojo offerd her a small bag.

"Oh, Hojo, you didn't have to," the woman took off the bag a round container.

"It's a special beauty cream. A limited edition," Hojo explained and smiled kindly at the woman opening the container and smelling the cream. While she was busy dipping her fingertips in it and spreading it on the back of her other hand Hojo gave the other boy a glance clearly saying 'Cam you best that?'

"Feh, she's plenty pretty without that stinky stuff," Inuyasha shrugged and looked up as if bored.

"Thank you, both of you," mama Higurashi smiled and put the cream beside her cup. Hojo gave his other gifts to Souta and Kagome's grandfather - a video game and a huge book with all weird illnesses listed in it.

A bright smile appeared on Hojo's lips when he saw the kid run away to put his new game in his room. He ran down pretty soon, before his grandfather could go through the introduction of his new book.

"Kagome's almost ready!" Souta exclaimed. Inuysha finished his tea in one gulp and waved a hand at the kid to come closer. Hojo was observing his rival as he stood up and looked down at the boy who was looking at him with sparks in his eyes. Inuyasha slid his katana from between the layers of his obi and put it in Souta's outstretched hands.

"No playing with it. No taking it out from the house, no showing your friends," the white-haired boy sand and didn't let go of the katana until Souta nodded. Once again the kid ran upstairs, Hojo noticed with displeasure there was an extra bounce to his step when he was running, hugging the sword to his chest. Hojo frowned when he heard the boy talk to his sister upstairs.

"Look, Inuyasha made me Tessaiga's safekeeper again!"

"That's great, just don't play with it," came Kagome's voice. Her mother chuckled behind her tea cup.

"I feel like it's asking for troubles every time," Inuyasha murmured more to himself than anyone else. Hojo was going to point out it was safe to let a kid play with a cosplay sword since they were made from latex and wouldn't harm him. But before he could open his mouth Kagome ran down the stairs and he was speechless.

She had her hair in a high ponytail, skinny dark jeans covered her legs and a red shirt with a black jacket on her upper body. She was so beautiful!

"Kagome, you look beautiful," he said, letting his eyes drink her beauty. She was the best candidate to be his girl, as kind and smart as he was.

"You ain't going anywhere dressed like that!" the oathethic moron in red stated while crossing his arms, scowling at the girl. "Guys will drool all over you and will get some stupid ideas!"

Hojo grinned inwardly. Way to make a girl hate you, he thought. But his mirth faltered when Kagome smiled at the other boy much wider than at him and waved a hand.

"You'll have to protect me then," Kagome said and walked past both boys. "Okay, I'm ready, let's go!"

Hojo followed Kagome outside, stealing glances at his arch enemy, his rival for Kagome's affections. He knew before sundown there would be no doubt Kagome's heart was his and his alone. The other boy simply had no chance.
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A/N: There is a possibility I will take this idea and forge it into a longer oneshot later, if you are interested in reading about the whole day when Hojo battled Inuyasha for Kagome's heart.