Inuyasha was waiting in the trees when the stranger walked up the stone steps to the Higurashi shrine. He was carrying a brown box and smiling to himself in a uniform of sorts, a student, military? The human man was approaching Kagome's home. He balanced the box on one arm to knock on the front door. Inuyasha was ready to leap down and scare the stranger off if he was unwanted. Kagome's mother opened the front door with a cheerful greeting. She let the stranger in!
Inuyasha bounded forward and climbed through Kagome's open window. From the top of the stairs he could easily listen to their conversation. Pleasantries, asking about her health, the shrine...The man asked about Kagome's studies and her plans for the weekend. There was a movie at the local cinema and he wanted to take her?
Kagome's mother agreed!
Inuyasha's anger broiled but he remembered to grab the cap that hid his ears. He threw himself down the stairs to find the pair in the kitchen, perfectly at ease. The human man had brown hair and a soft face, soft hands. The smell of freshly washed clothing and soap coated his skin. Human in every way. His scowl must have alerted Mama Higurashi.
"Inuyasha? Is something the matter?"
"Who are you?" Inuyasha smelled no family relation. The boy rose from his seat with an idiot smile and bowed to him slightly. He announced himself as Hojo, a friend of Higurashi's. He was home visiting from college.
"They're friends, Inuyasha."
Friends?! Kagome fielded enough marriage proposals from strangers in the Feudal Era. He knew the hopeful glean in the boy's eyes as he considered touching Kagome, kissing Kagome, marrying Kagome! Not this time. Kagome had promised herself to him.
"We haven't been introduced. Are you a friend of the family? Do you work here?" Hojo eyed his style of clothing with intrigue. "Are you hosting a performance, Higurashi-san? My mother would love that!"
"Performance?!" Inuyasha snarled, stepping forward. Something instinctive made the soft human boy shrink back.
"Inuyasha-kun is Kagome's intended. They are to be married." Mama stepped forward to touch his red shoulder. She quietly asked him to release Hojo. He acquiesced for her sake. The boy's eyes blinked then widened, then swiped over Inuyasha's tense form ready to strike. An internal struggled waged war as his mouth moved stupidly without sound. Satisfaction put a smirk on his face as Kagome's mother stood on his side. Kagome had promised to marry him! Kagome's mother had given him her blessing, her daughter's hand. Her acceptance.
"I didn't know Kagome was engaged!"
"It was rather recently...finalized." Kagome's mother considered him. "I did not want them to marry under she had finished high school, but it's been expected for some time."
Expected? She knew we were in love?
"If there was an agreement, why didn't Kagome tell me?" Sadness filled the boy's voice. "I wouldn't have asked her out if I'd known. Your family runs a shrine...of course. I should have asked if she was betrothed to someone of a similar background."
"I did not arrange this marriage, dear. Kagome chose Inuyasha." Mama Higurashi quietly corrected him. His eyes widened even more at the news. Smart, beautiful, popular Kagome was going to marry a cosplayer? A delinquent?
"Is K-Kagome – " Hojo's hands lifted to make the gesture but faltered. A blush covered his face with impossible speed. Inuyasha noticed his hands hovering over his abdomen. The thought of his fragile Kagome doing that with a gangster with long hair rendered him speechless. "Folic acid is g-good for...my father runs a pharmacy...Higurashi-san."
"Mama!" The front door closed with a rush of air. The pretty teenager with flushed cheeks rounded the corner. The standoff in the kitchen stopped her. "Hojo-kun, how good to see you! How's university?"
Hojo's eyes darted towards her belly.
"Why, you – " Inuyasha caught on. "She's not pregnant! Quit looking at her!'
Kagome squeaked as Hojo's eyes estimated the size of her breasts before turning away. She covered her chest as Inuyasha swept forward to shield her. A low sound was coming from her hanyou.
"I m-meant no disrespect. I just thought – " Hojo stopped. It was at that moment that Kagome remembered she had forgotten to call Hojo with news of her engagement. Her ex-classmate still considered her a friend, still thought they were dating. Guilt filled her as Inuyasha protected her. She really had meant to call him, at the university, but she'd forgotten! Honestly, she'd thought he would be dating a new girl by now.
"Oops." Kagome watched Inuyasha swivel towards her, a challenge. "I forgot to call him!"
