In this town we call home

Everyone hail to the pumpkin song

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Something Strange

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Another day. Another class. Another moment away from the only friends she even cared about anymore. Well...that wasn't quite true. Not after what happened.

"Kagome! Wait! Wait!" an all too familiar voice called out - one of the only voices asides from her family's that she actually looked forward to hearing. Pausing as Ayumi caught up breathlessly, Kagome grinned before furrowing her brow in confusion as the curly haired girl thrusted several tiny boxes of...

"Pocky?" Kagome asked in a confused tone as she accepted the various varieties before realizing how rude that sounded - not that Ayumi noticed.

"For Shippo," Ayumi explained excitedly, "While you've been away I've tried to find limited edition flavors. You said pocky as his favorite treat, right?"

"Aw," Kagome cooed as she leaned forward to give her dear friend a light hug, "He'll love it! That's so thoughtful. Thank you."

"And I think Hojo has some homeopathic medical treatments for you too," Ayumi added - a little sheepishly, "I wanted to talk to you about that. For the Gishisai Festival his family was actually going to set up a booth. You know to promote their store? I was wondering whether you'd be interested in helping pass out samples? I know that's probably the last..."

"Since when do you pass out samples for the store," Kagome asked slyly - causing her friend to blush.

"Well, um, you know we've grown, uh, closer after what happened," Ayumi explained casually - a little too casually and with a faint blush on her cheeks that didn't go unnoticed, "And I agreed to help since he, um, has been very helpful recently."

"Has he?" Kagome asked as she tried to repress a smile, "Go on."

"Well, he'd been tutoring me, um, over dinner," Ayumi began sheepishly, "And there was a planetarium exhibit that he took me to. You know...for science."

"Are you dating Hojo?" Kagome asked as she nearly lost the battle to keep her grin at bay.

"Maybe," Ayumi replied as her cheeks blossomed into a deep crimson and she looked to Kagome for approval. Approval that, based on her friend's face, had already been heartily given.

"That's so exciting!" Kagome gushed as she stopped and pulled her friend into a tight embrace before pulling back and grinning, "Details. I need details."

"Well...It started after that night..." Ayumi began awkwardly, "It took us a while to...to recover from...well everything that happened. It seemed like he fell into old faithful. Using forcible generosity to cope. Brought me tons of stuff. Vitamins. Soda. Sandals. You know, his usual thing to find an excuse to be closer to me but it was just...well at first, it seemed like he was doing the only thing he knew to do. Like a comfort thing. Drove Yuka and Eri crazy. Not that I care but anyway..."

Kagome's grin faltered as her eyes sparked angrily. Ah yes, Yuka and Eri. They had caused quite the scene hadn't they? As forgiving of others as the miko could be, she couldn't ignore how heinous they'd been to Ayumi. To her. Even to Hojo. All in the name of 'saving' her from a man they didn't even know. Who they'd also been awful to. It admittedly was partially her fault. She had given the impression - kinda - that InuYasha was violent and in this era she could arguably see - okay, not really - how someone could jump to the conclusion he...

No, no she couldn't justify the way they acted. It was inexcusable. They had the opportunity to confront her privately and that she could've forgiven but to publicly lay into her, Ayumi and Hojo like that...to tell everyone...well, it was pretty much unforgivable. In a way she was grateful those two hadn't followed her. They wouldn't have been able to handle seeing what Hojo and Ayumi saw. In all honesty, she was shocked the two witnesses hadn't been driven completely insane.

"Well, then he offered to tutor me in biology," Ayumi continued as her blush stubbornly refused to leave her cheeks, "I think he wanted someone to talk to about what we saw because we didn't really talk about biology so much the first time. Or ever to be honest. It was more...well we both needed to talk about...that night. We needed to make sure what we saw wasn't some type of fever dream. After I think the third session...well the third time we basically vented and made peace with what we saw anyway - he invited me to sit with his friends at lunch since I wasn't sitting with Yuka and Eri anymore. And I honestly think he didn't feel like he could truly relate to his friends anymore either. I mean, how could we? Everything seemed...well everything seemed to be so...so...well you know. I don't know how you put up with any of us after all the things you've seen and done. Oh speaking of which that creep transferred out finally. Anyway, I didn't tell you last few times you came back because I didn't want to...well, so last week he asked me to go to the planetarium exhibit with him and well...we maybe sorta kissed."

"Under the mistletoe or..." Kagome teased - trying to ignore the pang in her heart that her friends had struggled with this new reality - before forcing a laugh and squeezing her friend once more. She didn't want to bring up the painful memory. If they could move forward, if they had made their peace with it, she wasn't going to press the issue. Continuing in what she hoped was a happy tone, she added, "After finals we should do a double date. I know InuYasha wants to hit the road during break but I'll be back at least once a month."

"It's still too early," Ayumi muttered as she chewed her bottom lip, "I mean, we haven't even really talked about whether we're boyfriend and girlfriend yet."

"Just let me know. Leave a message with good dates and I'll call the minute I get home," Kagome giggled as she pulled away and they both continued walking towards the school chittering excitedly about the details of the handful of dates - dissecting every detail before...

"Well isn't it Hojo," Kagome announced knowingly when he glanced at Ayumi with a shy smile and offered her a six pack of organic citrus soda - complete with a tiny bow.

"It's supposed to help boost your immunity," Hojo explained with a faint blush - casting a nervous glance at Kagome as he did so before turning his full attention back on the girl the gift had been intended for, "It's cold and flu season after all."

"How very thoughtful Hojo," Kagome commented knowingly with a playful wink. A wink that had Hojo tense up and glance at Ayumi who shrugged and nodded sheepishly in silent reply. Visibly relaxing - utterly relieved that he didn't have to explain why for once there was no gift for Kagome- the new couple joined hands and the trio walked together the last few blocks in comfortable silence before Hojo broke the silence.

"So Kagome, do you have any plans the weekend after finals?" Hojo asked curiously - causing both Ayumi's and Kagome's faces to fall, "Oh no, not like that. Just would you and your boyfriend like to come to an exhibit at the history museum with me and my girlfriend. You know, a double date. There's an exhibit I think you and InuYasha would be very interested in seeing."

Casting Ayumi a warm glance - which was missed when her friend visibly melted at the word 'girlfriend' - Kagome nodded once and was about to accept before she frowned. At the notable lack of response, Ayumi looked over and saw her friends disappointed face. She knew what it meant immediately.

"When are they expecting you back, Kagome?"

"Tuesday. When I left we heard there might be a jewel shard in the North," Kagome groaned before Hojo chuckled and offered a compromise.

"Would it be possible to go after school lets out today then? It shouldn't take very long and we can study afterwards," Hojo pressed before his eyes widened and he glanced at Ayumi for approval, "Unless you have plans?"

She did not. As soon as it was decided that Kagome would try to retrieve InuYasha, both Ayumi and Kagome were surprised when Hojo procured a rather large parcel from his book bag - whichhow he'd managed to fit it in there they'd never know - and offered it to the miko.

"It's clothes," he explained quickly, "If you accepted I wanted to make sure he didn't wear his usual outfit. You'll see why."

"I ain't changing shit," InuYasha's voice suddenly called out from the rooftop- without any malice of course - before he gracefully landed in front of the three and sniffed the package suspiciously.

"Seriously?" Kagome huffed indignantly as Hojo and Ayumi merely stared at the hanyou in awe, "How long have you been following us?"

"You were supposed to be back in two days. It's been two days, " InuYasha replied defensively as he straightened up and glared at Ayumi and Hojo who both looked like they did not want to get involved, "You heard her! She just said two days! I'm not being unreasonable!"

"I said Tuesday. Tues-day. It's Thursday," Kagome huffed as Hojo barely repressed a snort, "I even marked it on the calendar I gave you."

"You did not!" InuYasha clipped back - refusing to admit that he had never even looked at the damn thing, "And I would not have agreed to a week! The damn jewel shard might be long gone by then!"

"I have a test tomorrow and another Monday! I can't come back," Kagome countered before she smirked, "Unless you want me to have to be held back a year?"

"You know damn well I don't want you to be held back another year," InuYasha grumbled even as he sent Kagome an angry glare that caused the other two witnesses to cringe. The phrase 'if looks could kill' crossing their minds. It was a dirty move and the miko knew it. The only reason she hadn't taken InuYasha up on his offer to build her a house - basically get married - was that she needed to wait until after she graduated. Another year in school meant another year he'd have to forego having a wife and all that came with it. And he was very eager to make Kagome his wife.

"Whatever. But if you're not back on time, I'll come drag you back," InuYasha huffed as he tried to maintain the facade that he was the one in charge. Which he wasn't and all three of them knew it.

"I was just telling Kagome about a museum exhibit," Hojo interrupted into the somewhat tense silence, "Would you be interested in going with us after school, InuYasha?"

"I thought you had a test," InuYasha sneered as he gave Kagome a side eyed glare, "See this is why you fail shit. You waste time!"

Hojo moved a step closer to Ayumi and recaptured her hand - deeply regretting suggesting anything and trying his best not to bring attention back to himself. The poor boy had seen where those type of thoughtless comments led over the past few months. He had seen it and been very afraid. Not of the half-demon. Oh no. He wasn't the scary one. InuYasha was just a fool.

"Excuse me!" Kagome hissed angrily as she gave him a look of pure indignation, "I fail 'shit' because you drag me back too early and I miss too many tests!"

"No, it's because you waste time! You don't need to know any of this anyway! Come back home!" InuYasha snarled angrily before Kagome and InuYasha entered into what Ayumi affectionately called 'the duel'. Their eyes locked, jaws set, scowls on their faces. Kagome usual won the 'the duel' but there were also times he did. Not as many but a few. A mostly unspoken challenge as to who was going to get their way or who was going to apologize first.

"I'm staying for my test," Kagome challenged as her eyes narrowed further.

"Not when you're just wasting time!" InuYasha clipped back as he bared fangs.

"It is not a waste of time to pass a test so I can graduate from high school!" Kagome countered.

"I didn't mean the damn test! You were going to go to this exhibit thing!" InuYasha accused as he pointed angrily at Hojo - who took another small step towards Ayumi even though Inuyasha's glare was still focused on the miko.

Ayumi laughed as she squeezed Hojo's hand reassuringly. It was nice how natural this new reality felt in that moment. To not have to hide the knowledge she now possessed. It was freeing. And it helped to know that today's duel was nothing to worry about. Inuyasha was going to win about the clothes and maybe the museum but lose the duel when it came to school. Kagome was going to win staying for school and maybe going to the museum but would lose when it came to going back Tuesday. He was going to get Monday evening after her test and Kagome would be able to stay until then despite the initial misunderstanding. Who would win on the museum depended on who thought they were in the wrong.

In all honesty, though, Ayumi secretly agreed with InuYasha about school being a waste of time. Even though she'd miss Kagome terribly, her friend didn't belong in this era. Not anymore. There really was no point in her continuing school. That and there were probably innocent people getting hurt while Kagome focused on something as useless as 'mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell.'

"I'll go to this museum thing but I ain't changing," InuYasha huffed as he broke eye contact first and folded his arms across his chest as he added, "If you come back Monday after your test."

"Only if you leave after the museum so I can study and I get a full week - yes a week Inuyasha - here around New Years," Kagome demanded as the duel's intensity faded.

"Two days" InuYasha countered smugly as the corners of his lips twitched upwards- both he and the miko visibly relaxing much to the relief of the other couple.

"Five."

"Three."

"Four."

"Three."

"Three but you have to agree to go on a double date."

"With who?"

"Who do you think?"

"Whatever."

And so the duel officially concluded after mostly civil negotiations. As the four of them headed towards the school, Hojo had to admit he had been a fool to be interested in Kagome. She was much too intense. Much too wild. Much too scary. A fighter whose battles alongside a powerful half-demon were literally the stuff of legends that made it into museums exhibits. Who could truly see something that terrifying and move on with strength of mind he had no hope of ever matching. It wasn't that he felt he was weak though. He just was self-aware.

He didn't enjoy arguing - unlike the pair walking hand in hand in front of him like nothing happened. He enjoyed caring for others - Kagome didn't want anyone fussing over her. She could hold her own and honestly could probably kick his ass. If Kagome had fought with him like that, he probably would've folded immediately because he hated confrontation. It would never have worked. Ever.

He needed someone even tempered. Someone calm and relatively easy to deal with but still able to hold her own and put him in his place if need be. Someone brave and kind and loyal - which is what drew him to Kagome initially - but just...in normaldoses. Not so extreme. He was not one for extremes. He honestly hadn't intended to get involved with Ayumi - merely relieved that he could talk to someone, anyone about what he saw and have them not think him insane. The more they hung out though, the more seeing her became the highlight of his day. Casually suggesting tutoring sessions over dinner was his version of sending out a feeler to see whether she was interested in him. He didn't want to lose the only person he could ever talk to who also knew things that went bump in the night existed and wasn't hell bent on killing them all - although that thing probably had taken care of most of those types by now or - at a minimum - had forced them to leave Inuyasha alone. Not that he condoned the violence or relatively arbitrary murdering sprees. He hated violence and murder was highly immoral. There was just nothing he could do about it and so he forced himself not to dwell.

In any case, Ayumi seemed to take everything in stride and her ability to cope with this new reality had calmed his own nerves immensely. She calmed him. He was a rather nervous person after all. Usually he washed his hands every five minutes - probably single handedly keeping Purrell in business. Hyperfocused on everyone's health compulsively. Was a people pleaser to a degree that nauseated even him. But after meeting her, after spending so much time with her? He felt like he was breathing clean air for the first time in his life. Like a giant weight had lifted off his shoulders. He only used Purrell once every hour now - if that. His obsession with everyone he cared about's health has lessened to a healthy level - no pun intended - and forcible generosity had dwindled to a minimum. The citrus soda was the first thing he'd given Ayumi since they started dating and that alone was huge. Life was easier with her in it. Natural. Everything happened for a reason.

Kagome belonged with InuYasha and he belonged with Ayumi.

Together they would face their new reality and be stronger for it.

Strange murderous blobs aside, all was well.

~~~ HAPPY HALLOWEEN ~~~~