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"We have meetings after school every Tuesday and Friday here," she declared and he turned back on her. He opened his mouth to say something, but a fumbling noise caught his ear and he looked up to see his friends attack him.

"He'll be there!" Tsu declared, covering the taller boy's mouth in a suspicious act of bravery. One might think he hadn't noticed the large fangs in a week of knowing him. Himoshi's hands wrapped around Inuyasha's waist as he started tugging the enraged boy towards the stairs.

"We'll make sure!" he declared, together the boys carted him offstage to the Instructor and Azami's amusement.

Inuyasha's ears plastered against his skull as Kagome went into another gale of laughter, "YOU Got stuck dealing with Azami? Oh geez, and she's going to be your teacher," a low snicker made his ears bob uncertainly at Kagome's reaction to the news that he'd been attached to Drama class.

He wrinkled his nose at her, and scratched at his neck with a clawed fingertip, "I take it you know her then?" Kagome'd never been one for snickering, let alone making such a harsh judgment of someone. Come to think of it, he'd barely heard a complaint about him out of her.

"That woman is famous on campus even to people who don't get to go as often as they would like," Kagome shot Inuyasha a look, and he blissfully ignored it, already practiced at pretending verbal jabs like that didn't exist, "She's a bossy loudmouth. I've never met her, but I hear she can be a handful," Kagome waved a hand quietly, and then resumed folding Inuyasha's uniform. Laundry day, and she'd ended up stuck cleaning up after her mutt. When her mom said she could get a puppy if she cleaned up after him, she didn't think she meant this.

Inuyasha watched her hands mildly, "You know she reminds me of someone," he said, voice dazed like he was thinking. Kagome dropped her hands and shot him a vicious glare, "Not you," he gave her a sheepish 'we've been through that already' smile, "She looks like Sango, sorta. She's got the same hair and eyes."

"Oh.," She relaxed thoughtfully, "Well... We did meet Hojo's ancestor, and they looked alike."

Kagome paused in thought, and Inuyasha grinned at her look, "Oh, how I wonder who she'd end up with." Both of them shot each other a big grin. It was rather obvious considering.

"We should check in on them, I mean it's been a week since we last saw them," oh and she remembered when they did. Both Sango and Miroku seemed rather put out by all the time they were spending in the future, but had been understanding about the whole thing. Inuyasha's curiosity had once again captured him, and well, it wasn't like they weren't enjoying staying in one place for a little while. Sango was getting some herbal knowledge from Kaede she'd never thought of getting before, and Miroku had been training some of the kids in the village a few fighting tricks in case demons came by. Really, the downtime was good for them. Even Shippo had been gathering a little gang of friends.

Inuyasha hesitated for a moment, and then nodded. He folded his arms across his bare chest. He knew that every time they went back, they risked finding the village in tatters, a demon nearby to drag them off shard hunting again, or worse Naraku could be doing something evil. Right now, they were safe. Kagome had the shards of the jewel they had collected in her world, and that meant there was no way the jewel could be completed back in his time. He had a hard time admitting the regularity was starting to feel nice, and that he would miss Himoshi and Tsu if they had to go adventuring so soon.

Kagome caught his eye, and then carried his clothing towards her room. He'd been sleeping on the floor, much to her mother's amusement. He followed mournfully, kind of upset that he'd only been able to find his hakama pants. His haori seemed to have been stolen for the wash as well, and he'd been forced to sulk without it. Ah well, nearly indestructible fire-rat fur should be able to handle the heat of the dryer thing Kagome liked to put cloth in. Made it nice and warm afterwards too.

Kagome's hand held out the same garment he'd been thinking of and he lit up, grabbing it from her hand, and slipping into it like an old skin. He exhaled in relief, obvious happiness at feeling, whole, feeling right again. Kagome smiled at him, and reached for her bag. Now that she'd finished tormenting him. It really hadn't been her fault the haori had been at the bottom of the basket. She reached for another set of clothing, and slipped it into her bag.

"Well we might as well get going now. If we don't, we'll never get back in time for next week," she paused, shying away from the subject, "If you still want to go to school with me…" it had been such a relief to get a few weeks of school in. she'd been able to study, and had even had Inuyasha trying to help her study for once. Now that he realized how hard she had it. The school hadn't even questioned the fact he'd been going to classes, since he'd caused no trouble since those first two detentions.

Inuyasha nodded, "Alright," he paused for a moment, and Kagome knew he was thinking by the way he left off. She quickly stuffed a few things into her bag besides the clothing, you never knew when a round of 'hi everyone!' would turn into demon hunting central again.

"You know, we're going to have to go back soon," his voice was low, and Kagome winced. She'd been fooling herself to think she'd have any chance of this becoming normal. No, he was right. They would have to go back.

"Just, a little longer you know? I missed this, I had it for ten years before I met you, and it's almost like it could have happened like this." Her voice was quiet, and Inuyasha reached out to touch her shoulder on instinct, but pulled back before she looked up. His face contorted into a grimace, Himoshi and Tsu were getting to him. He'd be wanting to hug Miroku next the man started agonizing over his WindTunnel at this rate. Peh, the future was far too touchy feely.

He stood up quickly, clothing flowing naturally, and hair nice and clean from the enforced bathing that school had been forcing on him after gym classes, "We should go," he announced, and turned, heading down the stairs and past Souta, who had long become jaded by Inuyasha's continual appearance in the household. It just wasn't as cool when you kept having to fight over the snacks in the kitchen with the hanyou, as it was when he stopped by occasionally and saved your life.

Kagome cracked a small smile as he retreated. Down the stairs, she never would have guessed he'd adapt this quickly. Always through the window with him, and now. Things really were changing. She swung her bag over her shoulder, and followed him down in her own demure way, ignored even more heavily by Souta because when the hanyou stopped being cool, your older sister was relegated to non-existence until you wanted something from her.

"We're baaaack!" Kagome shouted, as Inuyasha touched down in the middle of the village. It wasn't burning, smoldering, or heck even all that damaged. There were new reinforcements on some of the walls reminiscent of some they'd seen at the Demon slayer village, and the whole place looked in much better repair than when they'd left in fact!

"Kagome? Inuyasha!" A voice from above caused them to look up and spot Miroku in a rare display of physical helpfulness. He was on the roof, sleeves pulled up and tied to stay out of his way, and a good bundle of thatching at his side. He sat back on his haunches, wiping some sweat off his brow and smiled good-naturedly down at them.

"What a surprise, it's been a while since you two bothered to come back. We'd thought you'd gone and eloped," the monk teased, teeth flashing in a grin that made Inuyasha's ears twitch back slightly.

"Are you sure you're our Miroku?" he shot back, offering the man a hand as he hopped down from the roof, using his staff in his other hand to slow his decent and keep his footing, "Our Miroku's not exactly known for the construction work. Unless you count the attempts at kids."

Miroku wrinkled his nose, "No, Keade got me for this one. She caught me slacking off while the team was practicing some of their moves, and I ended up on roof fixing detail. I guess she thought I needed it, and I'm pretty sure she's tired of the leaking when it rains."

Sango appeared then, Shippou on her shoulder greedily stuffing a sugared chunk of some nuts and fruit in his mouth with apparent relish. She smiled warmly at the pair, "I see Miroku's already got the welcome party established." She opened her arms and tugged Kagome in for a quick hug, "You've been gone so long we were getting worried."

Kagome smiled happily, hugging her friend back, "Oooh! You have no idea how good it is to see you guys doing so well. How did you manage to get him up there! I thought he'd pawn it off on meditation."

Miroku made a face, "Oh so you're all against me. Great. I'm just going to go back up there," he trailed off, turning to do so, before Inuyasha very neatly picked him up and set him back where he'd been. He blinked momentarily at this, "You've been consorting with future humans too much Inuyasha," he declared, slightly ruffled.

Kagome giggled, "He's got friends. They keep dragging him around everywhere and I think he's getting the idea that it's the way of the world."

Inuyasha huffed, "Like it's so bad. Pretend it's like, you know, aggressive body language." The grin that split his face showing his fangs made Shippou glare meaningfully at him.

"Kagooome!" He whined, already curled at her shoulder the moment Sango had gotten him in range, "Inuyasha hasn't done any untoward to you riiiight?"

Kagome pursed her lips thoughtfully, "Miroku's been around you too much, but no. Don't worry, I can handle myself. I mean, necklace." Inuyasha made a face at the reference.

Shippou nodded sagely, stuffing his tiny hands in his oversized sleeves, "Well if he does do anything bad, I'll rough him up for you."

"Oh you will, will you?" she said, snagging the little fox demon and mercilessly tickling his stomach.

"Ahhh!" he squealed, wriggling, "Stop! You're ruining my image!"

"He's got an image?" Kagome blinked, glancing up at Sango.

"Oh he's the town ruffian now," the other girl stole the fox demon, neatly setting him on top of her boomerang strapped to her back, "I've been training him a little, and he's been picking it up so quick the other children are starting to look up to him now."

Kagome smiled weekly, "Any chance you guys would be up for another week of this?"

"Hot baths, no fighting, and a good chance to resupply?" Sango giggled lightly, happier than Kagome had seen in a while since the Kohaku incident. "I think we can survive."

Miroku groaned, "Great, Kaede knows my weaknesses, and my usual tricks. If I'm all horribly hunky and muscle bound when you return, I fear I will have to blame you entirely." Kagome did not miss the oh so slight, almost admiring, look Sango shot him at that. Her eyes returned to their friends quick enough but it made Kagome break out into a large grin at the thought of Azami.

"Well of course, you can blame us for everything," she smiled brightly, "We'll be back in a week then. Anything you'd like when we come back?"

"Ningen food!" Shippou announced balefully, "Miroku ate my last bag of potato chips when I was sleeping!"

Inuyasha snorted, "You keep whining brat and I'll eat all of them before Kagome can bring them home."

"Kagome! He's being mean again!" Shippou said, whining, and trying to use his usual stunts against Inuyasha. With cuteness that tiny and fuzzy, girls like Kagome were putty. Normally.

"You know I'll distract him with Ramen," she smiled and Shippou went slightly wider eyed. No anger? Those two must have been getting along way too well in the future. He'd have to fix that when they got home for good.

"While you're here anyways, would you care to help out?" Miroku asked, handing Inuyasha a large handful of hay.

Inuyasha sighed at the imposition, "Fine fine. Whatever."

Inuyasha groaned on the way to school, walking alongside Kagome and rolling his shoulder blades, "He had me up there for hours! That bastard, he knew I didn't been doing anything really over the top here to keep in shape, and he made me pay for it."

Kagome giggled at his side, "You think that's bad? I can't get the smell of herbs off my fingertips. Sango had me picking for hours. You think they're just a bit vengeful that we're not around?"

"A bit," Inuyasha agreed companionably.

Himoshi smiled happily suddenly between them to Kagome's shock, and Inuyasha's complete lack of surprise, "You know you two chatter like an old married couple."

"You and Tsu do the same thing," Inuyasha added flatly. Kagome shot him a curious glance, before giving up. Obviously he'd scented the boy in advance or something.

Himoshi paused to think about this, "You know, you're right. We should do something about that."

Tsu cropped up at Inuyasha's other elbow, "We should include our chatter with him obviously. When it's three or more, you can't rightly call them a couple."

Himoshi nodded sagely, "Especially with three handsome fellers," he paused, and smiled at Kagome, "And a pretty lady." Kagome blushed and Inuyasha raised an eyebrow at her over the other two's heads. She was certainly enjoying that attention. He'd have to remember that later. He wrinkled his nose after they broke eye contact, oh gods, he was doing it again.

"Tsu, how will we ever get Inuyasha to go to Drama with us today?" Himoshi bemoaned, overdoing his acting as usual.

"Oh you're not still on about that," Inuyasha groaned, fangs showing as he rubbed his forehead. He made a face, those two were just born to get on his nerves. Some sort of a delayed tactic by Naraku or something.

"Azami wants you to play a part in her play! If you don't well..." tsu trailed off, looking a little perturbed by the idea someone would even contemplate letting the girl have a reason to get angry.

"I hear she's a little vengeful," Kagome offered, a curious look complimenting the most innocent face she could come up with. Inuyasha scoffed at it, considering her reaction to the girl's name earlier that day.

"A little?" Himoshi asked in exasperation, as if Kagome was undermining everything he stood for in life, "Last guy who turned down a part she really wanted him for went missing for a week. When he came back..." He shuddered, and went quiet, a somewhat disturbed look crossing his face.

"That bad?" Kagome blinked, she'd heard stories but, that story hadn't hit her path yet. It sounded downright painful.

"He was camping with his parents Himoshi, come on," Tsu grumbled, attacking the other boy with a cuff to the back of the head. Within the moments they had arrived on campus in their walk, the boys were already scuffling on the ground, sending up a dirt cloud that Kagome and Inuyasha simply walked past pretending they didn't know them at all.

Eri, Ayame, and Yume were chattering by the entrance to the school, and when they saw Kagome they all waved her own, obviously gleeful to see her again. She hadn't had a run of non-sickness like this for ages and they intended on making the most of it. She waved Inuyasha off, as he shrugged and headed for 'his' first class of the day. Girls, they never changed era by era. They always ended up in little groups of laughter and talking as such the world could not replicate.

Himoshi and Tsu skittered up, looking slightly dusty, and Tsu's glasses slightly skewed, but no worse for wear of their battle. Inuyasha raised an eyebrow at them.

"What?" Himoshi asked, while Tsu had the gumption to look a bit ashamed of himself.

"Do you always have to do that?" Inuyasha grumbled, watching the two of them as they gently brushed the dirt from each other's jackets.

"Morning exercise. Good for you," Tsu said, clipped as he fixed his glasses. From the tone of his voice it was downright obvious he'd had to explain this so so many teachers in Himoshi's stead that it had become second nature. He focused on the glasses for a second making sure they weren't scratched, and then blew a bit of dust off them. He settled them in his nose and looked superior to all things.

"Sure," Inuyasha said, giving it to him. When he got that professional liar look on his face, he had to admit the nickname 'The Professor' wasn't far off. He'd be damaging to anyone who thought they could out think him, and Himoshi was lucky enough he didn't have to.

"Hey, it's that Hojo guy," Himoshi interrupted the stare-off, leaning on Inuyasha's shoulder and peering at the boy in question, "Wonder what he's talking to Kagome about?"

Inuyasha's head jerked towards the group they'd just abandoned, and had his ears trained on them so fast Himoshi and Tsu paused at the sudden disappearance of their friend from between them. Himoshi relaxed from the position of where he had been leaning on Inuyasha's shoulder a few seconds ago and shot Tsu a curious look at their friend's reaction. Tsu wrinkled his nose and rubbed his temples. This would not turn out well.

"So um, Kagome," the mild boy was asking his face red, and a hand behind his head as he tried to ignore the rest of the gaggles' giggling behind her, "Would you like to go to this neat little café for lunch? It's new, and well, you seem to be so much better recently I thought that we could take the short walk there and back," he eyes turned up towards her. Brown eyes, that were hopeful as could be. He was so innocent it made one question if he were simply blind, but he couldn't be that bad could he?

Kagome visibly hesitated at the look being so very pleading, before nodding with an honest smile, "I'd love to Hojo," Inuyasha flinched slightly, and Himoshi and Tsu glanced at him worriedly. She'd been going out with Hojo before, and well, they had been getting a little closer each time...

Hojo lit up brightly, and took her hand, gently dropping a little gift bag of some sort of fruit I her hand, "I know you've been feeling better, so preventive measures this time! These berries have a long history, both of being a symbol of love in history," he blushed here realizing where his knowledge had dragged him bodily, "N-not that I meant that, it's just... they also help keep your immune system up! Enjoy them okay?" He smiled again and stepped away quickly.

Kagome blushed at the bag in her hand, "Um, thank you Hojo. I'll be sure to try them," she looked up at him coyly, "I'll see you for our date?" If she was going to do it she might as well enjoy it.

Hojo looked ecstatic, "Yeah! I can't wait. You always look so beautiful on them, even on short notice," he shook his head, "I um… I better get to class!" He announced, and waved before hurrying off before he could just collapse from his heroics. Kagome's blush set her friends on her like ravenous dogs, each one trying to give her tips, advice, and offerings of cute things she could do to her hair by lunch time.

Inuyasha watched quietly, he smelled him on her, Gods, he actually could smell it from there. It was following him. Inuyasha's brow creased, as Himoshi and Tsu took his hands and turned him away, leading him quietly to class like a timid horse, as he flinched at Kagome's friends congratulating her and her happy laughter about it.

He suddenly was hit by the fact that he never managed to make her laugh as much as Hojo did.

He was not a stalker. Inuyasha was not a stalker, he was just, making sure Kagome was being treated right was all. Himoshi and Tsu hadn't been able to figure out where he'd gone at Lunch when he shot up a nearby tree. It had been the work of a moment to cross the roof of the school, and find Hojo as he took Kagome off campus to that little café he'd mentioned. Whatever that was. Inuyasha had followed his nose, and besides the sweet but sharp smell of the 'coffee' thing that Kagome's Mother usually brewed for herself in the morning, they were pretty obvious about it.

Kagome was pretty, Inuyasha admitted grudgingly to himself. She'd borrowed a few things from friends and managed to make the school uniform she was still in look cuter than usual. His eyes were half lidded, as he seemed kind of downcast. Curled up on the building nearby, just out of sight of the people traveling down below, he had a good view of the whole affair.

It looked pretty innocent. He'd bought her a little pink cupcake with a heart on it that made her laugh when he almost dropped it fumbling for change. They'd chosen a little table under a tilted umbrella at the edge of the patio, and were drinking from teacups, or coffee cups, mugs or whatever. They were talking, and he was trying to keep from doing over exaggerated movements in his excitement. She kept giggling, smiling, and generally chatting as if he was a friend she'd known forever.

Inuyasha regretted that last thought. She probably had known him forever. They went to school in the same area, and from her stories, kids were forced together since a young age around here to learn in very scheduled manners. She'd certainly known him longer than Inuyasha himself. He'd been after her almost as long as he'd known her.

As he settled in his daze of thought, the two seemed to be wrapping up to get back to school. Inuyasha watched quietly. It was civil, boring, these date thing obviously were just complex mating rituals that would take weeks to get anywhere.

Then Hojo blushed brilliantly, even in the distance Inuyasha could see it, and leaned in hopefully. He tensed, trying his hardest not to give away his position. Kagome would never forgive him if she found out he was following her. Kagome paused, before tilting her head up to meet him and Inuyasha's heart felt like it dropped the three stories below him to shatter on the pavement. They were kissing. Kissing, his Kagome, and Hojo. Wet drops splattered onto the cement below him before he even realized they were happening. His view became cloudy as they pulled away and he watched them silently, clamping his teeth tightly as they walked hand in hand back towards the school.

He covered his mouth, he felt sick. That wasn't, he… he… He remembered Kagome when he'd kissed Kikyo, not her fault. He remembered the look she gave him. The way she treated him afterwards. He shuddered, and realized he'd been pushing her away with every movement. 'Just my jewel shard detector' filtered through his head and he winced. It was all his fault she was accepting Hojo's advances. It Wasn't as if he'd been trying very hard to win her.

It had seemed like a sure thing, somehow. Even Kouga hadn't been showing much of a lead, and he'd honestly been giving his all to win her. He realized maybe it wasn't him that was keeping her from accepting Kouga's offer to become the Queen of the Wolf Demons, at his side. It was a comfy gig, people would be fools to give it up, not that he wanted her too.

He pulled himself up, drawing up straight as they disappeared around a corner, and he bounded up the side of the building, leaping side to side off the inner window ledges, until he reached to top of the building. He didn't see it, he couldn't have. It must have been just an illusion at the distance. Maybe he was just, you know, helping her get something out of her eye. A crumb from that fucking cupcake.

He stopped running when he reached the bleachers behind the high school. He bounced over the wire fence, and underneath them, hidden from view. The gym glass was across the way, the shouts of the gym teacher barely registering over the distance as they commenced a game of soccer to get themselves moving. Inuyasha was oblivious as he curled in a ball behind a little gatehouse, out of the way of everyone and everything. His body shuddered rhythmically. The ground, and his uniform, slowly got wet.

But, he wasn't crying damnit. Demons didn't cry.

(( Oh fuck. I've got a plot. So, if everything works out, this should be chapter 8 of 14. Hope you enjoyed the old life, because we're probably not going to visit the past again. I mean, I love writing it normally, but it's just not going to fit. Also, I'm curious. Is anyone 'offended' by Azami, Himoshi or Tsu? I'm trying to keep them out of Mary Sue territory so far. Here's hoping I can keep it up what with the ideas coming up. Sorry Hojo haters, you made me do it. Hojo's going to get scenes all over this fic in upcoming chapters.

Plus; I've gotten better at writing since the last chapter, so I'm hoping there will be a definitive leveling up in what you're reading. As always, I love reviews, but you don't have to feel obligated. It just makes me write quicker is all. ))