A/N: New POV...I decided to double post bc I wanted to get your opinion. I don't think I'll keep this POV rotation, but if you like it, I'll sprinkle it in every now and then.

It was a nice and sunny day when the five of them went out that afternoon. The baby blue sky was painted with swirls of fluffy white clouds, and the birds were singing their peaceful songs in the lush trees of the park.

Conversations were light and playful as Miyuki brought out the picnic blanket they packed and set it under a shady tree. Kagome and Shiori brought out the food while the boys prepared the napkins and utensils.

Despite the seemingly perfect day, Hojo couldn't help but keep glancing at his girlfriend. He spent most of his night thinking about the previous dinner.

It was an unusually tense and rather awkward dinner. He had never been in a situation where it felt like one wrong movement would end it all, and he never wished to experience it again.

The reason for everyone's uncomfortableness was due to none other than a raven-haired beauty and a fiery-headed bachelor. For some unknown reason, the air around them felt charged, and they were constantly at odds.

He thought that their visit was going smoothly when they first arrived, ignoring the mention of her past lover. He didn't expect the sudden change in atmosphere when Shuichi saw Kagome. One would think that such a sweet girl and well-mannered boy would get along but Kagome and Shuichi clashed at every interaction.

He didn't expect his cousin to lock eyes with his girlfriend and look at her so intently with such shock, with such curiosity, with such interest. They stared at each other, paying no attention to the rest of the people in the room. There seemed to be an unspoken conversation between them in the short span of less than a minute until his mom spoke up and effectively breaking whatever connection they shared.

He pursed his lips. Kagome appeared to return Shuichi's attentions. Hojo had never seen her give him those expressions before with those shining blue eyes swirling with emotions that he couldn't name.

When Shuichi introduced himself, Hojo just had to answer as a silent warning that this girl was not someone his cousin could pursue. She was already spoken for.

"This is my girlfriend, Kagome Higurashi."

He was sure that Kagome was flustered and didn't know how to react to Shuichi since his cousin did have quite a reputation as a handsome and yet untouchable bachelor. That would explain the emotions in her eyes, so he put a hand on her shoulder not only to make a point to Shuichi but also to calm Kagome down.

He found that Kagome was tense which only proved that she was uncomfortable by Shuichi's presence.

Dinner carried on as normal, but Hojo kept thinking about the initial reaction of his cousin and his girlfriend. Upon further contemplation, he realized that there was some sort of recognition when they saw each other.

Perhaps they met each other before and were shocked that they were mutuals. Some small voice in his head suggested that there could be something deeper than that. Maybe their relationship was more intimate that he knew.

Hojo mentally shook his head. That was impossible. It just didn't make sense, and yet, he couldn't quell his fears. In the end, he decided to ask about it.

"I've heard of Shuichi before. He has quite the reputation that some of the girls at my school know of him. I just didn't expect that Hojo's cousin was the Shuichi Minamino."

He completely expected his girlfriend's answer. He prided himself on knowing her so well but the happy feelings left when Shuichi replied, integrating a compliment in his answer. He had never known his introverted cousin to be so smooth. In all honesty, he had never known him to show interest in any girl before.

So why Kagome?

And why say such sweet things when he knew that she belonged to someone else? Hojo believed Shuichi would have more respect for him than that. Then again, Hojo believed a lot of things only to be surprised later.

Before his thoughts grew darker, Shuichi acknowledged his relationship with Kagome and just like that, his worries fell away. The conversation moved on with ease. Nothing felt out of place. It was almost as if the earlier tension was just his imagination, but he spoke too soon.

Attention turned to Shuichi's love life. Hojo was interested because he wanted to see if there was anyone that could keep him away from Kagome, but there was no reason for Kagome to be interested and yet, she spoke up. He still remembered the shock that hit him like a rock when Kagome spoke bluntly and almost coldly. Soon, the tension was back as the two began glaring at each other.

They once again seemed to have a private conversation, something that Hojo could not understand. They claim to only have met, so why did they seem so familiar with each other. That was the last time they interacted that night though their animosity never left.

Hojo had an uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach. Before dinner, Hojo was almost certain that Shuichi was far from Kagome's type. Hojo knew many girls fell for his cousin's natural charm, but he initially wasn't too worried about Kagome's reaction. Shuichi was calm and relatively introverted. He was the kind of person who led a quiet life and was not one to look for trouble.

Kagome enjoyed excitement and thrill which was obviously why she loved Inuyasha so much, and Shuichi was not that at all. In fact, Hojo felt that he was more of Kagome's type since he was a lot more extroverted than his red-headed cousin. That idea had calmed his nerves. He truly wanted Kagome to meet his extended family and was looking forward to the trip.

But now he was having second thoughts. There was something undeniable about whatever was going on with the two teenagers, though Hojo wasn't sure what it was. Maybe they knew more than they let on which caused them to hate each other. If that were the case, Hojo wouldn't be happy about their extensive knowledge about each other but at least he wouldn't have to worry about his cousin...unless this was one of the situations where it's a love-hate relationship.

Hojo scoffed inwardly. He knew he was being unreasonable, but the idea that Shuichi would steal Kagome away kept prodding the back of his mind. He knew that wouldn't happen. Not with Shuichi that is. He was too docile for her. Hojo knew that his true opponent was someone else, a stranger to him and his lifestyle.

While he trusted Kagome to stay true, Hojo always had a small fear that she would leave him for another man. Someone more rugged. Someone more like Inuyasha.

"I loved him, Hojo. I loved him then and I love him now. There will never be a day where I won't stop loving him."

It wasn't the first time that she had made such a confession, but he was hoping every time that it would be her last. He knew he could never be like her last boyfriend, not in a million years. He couldn't change himself to be the "bad boy" or the "fierce" type. So, he decided that it was best for her to change her mindset instead.

He didn't know much about her ex other than the stories he heard from her friends. He had never formally met the guy, but he believed that he got a clear enough picture: Inuyasha was a wild card. He broke Kagome's heart multiple times and led her astray from her studies and from her friends. When she was feeling better enough to be out of the house, Inuyasha would take her away to who knows where more often than not.

It was well known that her break up with Inuyasha left a deep scar on her heart and his apparent death only amplified it. She was hurt and needed to heal. Hojo realized that without the competition and her vulnerable state, he could be the one she could lean on. Once she was feeling like herself again, he swooped in to take the opportunity to be more integrated into her life. And he got what he wanted.

He became the person who helped her back on her feet. He tutored her and invited her to hang out with his friends. He fancied himself the bridge between Kagome's old, toxic life and Kagome's new and improved life.

However, no matter how hard he tried to erase the memories of her past, he occasionally caught her looking wistful and sometimes she would try to talk to him about something she used to do. He felt that if she were to truly move on, she would need to forget about it all. He pushed her to do so.

Knowing there was still a part of her that longs for danger, he often was worried that she would end up chasing it. He was afraid that she felt he wasn't good enough for her when in reality he was perfect for her. He would be able to offer her a stable life and a steady income. He was able to give her a peaceful life and protection from savage people. He didn't want her to leave him.

"I never meant to stay here. I know my heart longs to be free, not to live so tamely. Sometimes I wish I could run away. Run as far as I can just so I could feel just a fraction of the rush I felt before."

Those words she spoke so long ago before they started dating stuck with him. It fueled his worries and solidified his mission to keep her grounded. She deserved so much better than what she wanted, and it was beyond Hojo to think that she didn't see a nicer future for herself. She should not be out and about especially when she was so sickly, no matter how much she claimd to have recovered.

"Here, Shuichi," said his mother, "give this plate to Kagome."

"Yes, Aunt," he said.

Hojo watched as Kagome looked at him in the eyes with her blue ones shining. Their bodies were relaxed but he saw the frown that marred her face when she received the plate. Then, just as quickly as it came, the frown was replaced with a smile when she caught his own gaze. Hojo was thrilled to know that he was the one who made her happy.

Hojo shook his head from the memories of last night. Her smile reminded him that now wasn't the time to think about it. He was here to spend time with his girlfriend, and that is what he was going to do with or without the mysteries surrounding the relationship of Shuichi and Kagome.

"Kagome," he called out, "What do you want to do after lunch?"

He waited as she swallowed her food. "I would love to take a walk around the area since I have never been to this part of Tokyo before."

"We'd be glad to show you around, dear," said Shiori.

Hojo's mother pitched her opinion in, "Oh sister, could we grab some pastries along the way? I know we just ate, but I love the street food here."

Shiori laughed and nodded.

LINE BREAK

The group walked around the city with their desserts in hand. Hojo's mother called Kagome over in the front of the group and looped her arm around Kagome's as they whispered away, his aunt occasionally giggling at something her sister said.

With a shake of his head, Hojo turned to his cousin, "I don't think I will ever understand girls."

"They really are a different breed," Shuichi replied with a nod.

Hojo watched the way Kagome laughed with the older women. She looked so at ease with them that he couldn't help but think she was already part of their family in all but name. The thought made him smile.

"You really like her, don't you?"

The voice of his cousin ripped him from his thoughts. "I do, a lot, actually."

"I'm curious," Shuichi began, "What is it that you like about her?"

Hojo looked at Kagome for a moment. He allowed his gaze to linger on her form. The dress she wore did wonders on her. It was a nice yellow that hugged her upper body. It was long enough to be decent but short enough for him to appreciate her nice legs. The light color contrasted her dark hair, making it stand out more. In the light, her hair gave off a blue sheen, something Hojo always marveled about.

"Well, for one she is very pretty. She always has been. I guess that's what caught my attention at first, but then she started getting sick a lot. People started talking about her and I got curious. I learned from her friends that she was kind-hearted and sweet, so I continued asking around about her.

"The next time she came to school," he continued, "I sought her out to bring her some medicine. I found that I wanted to get to know her better so I did my best to learn about her from others, researched her ailments, and spent time with her when she was feeling better.

"I eventually came to really like Kagome. She's funny and friendly and very polite. I was distraught when I found out she was in a relationship with a delinquent. She has so much potential that it would be a shame to waste her life away with someone like that. I made it my goal to save Kagome from making anymore poor decisions and to take care of her because she's so sickly. I want to become a doctor, so it's perfect for Kagome to be with me, don't you think?"

"I see," said Shuichi. "You said she was in a relationship with a delinquent?"

Hojo's eyes darkened a bit. He didn't like talking about Inuyasha, but that didn't mean that he wouldn't complain about the guy when the opportunity arose. Other people should know how badly he treated Kagome.

"He was a terrible person. I am convinced that he was the reason she got sick a lot. He probably took her to some sketchy places that were riddled with diseases. Poor Kagome's weak immune system couldn't handle that." Hojo frowned as he stared at Kagome's back.

Shuichi raised an eyebrow, "You never met him?"

"Not really," he admitted, "But I have seen him once. He crashed our school play back in middle school. Came right through the roof. I thought it was just a change in the play that I wasn't aware about so I played along, but later I was told that it wasn't planned. In that short amount of time, I saw he was brash and unruly with long dyed hair. Kagome's friends said it was his natural color, but who has silver hair?"

This time both of Shuichi's eyebrows went up. Hojo took the expression as a shocked agreement.

"I can see why you're so protective of her," Shuichi responded. "How long have you been with her?"

"Two years," he said with a smile. "We get along so well that I feel like we know everything about each other."

"Is that so? Well, all of us have our secrets. I'm sure Kagome is no exception."

Hojo gave Shuichi a side glance. There was a serene smile on his face, but his words sounded like a warning.

His cousin always had that smile on his face. Always kind. Always peaceful. Always knowing. It put Hojo on edge more often than not. Still, it was better than the cold, disinterested frown he sported back when they were children. Sometimes he wondered what had caused the change, but Hojo decided it was better to let it be.

"No, Shuichi," he finally said. "I think Kagome is always honest with me. Besides, you said it yourself at dinner last night."

"Right, of course. How could I forget?"

LINE BREAK

The sun began to set and the five of them walked home. The sisters and Shuichi walked behind the couple, allowing them semi-privacy. It was almost painfully obvious that they were watching the two like hawks.

Almost.

Hojo carried on, grasping his girlfriend's hand, unaware of the staring as he chatted about the day.

"So, Kagome," he started, "What do you think of my family?"

Kagome turned her head to look at him. "I like them very much."

Hojo tilted his head before asking, "Even Shuichi?"

"Um, he's not too bad," she said as she glanced behind her.

"'Not too bad'? From the looks of it, it doesn't seem like you're very fond of him."

Kagome winced, "Am I that obvious?" She winced again when Hojo nodded. "If I'm being completely honest, he gets on my nerves."

"That's surprising, Kagome," Hojo replied, "I would have expected you two to get along."

"Perhaps we would if he wasn't so...frustrating," she finished lamely.

Hojo laughed. "That's something I don't hear everyday!"

They continued talking about trivial things, the topic of Shuichi forgotten. Hojo was very happy for the rest of the day.

A/N: Thanks for reading! Reviews are always appreciated ^^