I don't own H.O.T.D….but I can wish. And I guess Kagome isn't mine either….

Busujima's hair is purple in my world. That is all.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

A month before everything came to an end, Kagome argued with her mother.

"It's not going to open again! And your lazing around the house does nothing! You aren't needed here. Especially if you'll influence Souta to become like you!"

"Like what Mama? Driven? Adventurous? Honorable?"

"You know exactly what I mean." Kagome's mother bit out in a low voice. "You might fool others, but we can see what you are. You aren't happy in this world. Why can't you take the peace you've been given and learn to live with it?"

"Because this is not my world!" Kagome winced when her mother's palm connected with her cheek. She closed her eyes and pressed against the darkening handprint with her fingers.

"Kagome…."

"I'll call the Tai. They owe me for what I did. You won't see me again."

"Kagome, please. I just want you to understand."

"But I don't. The Tai…their world is for me. I got so used to pain and hardship that this," Kagome motioned to the living room. "This is all a dream. I'll be gone by morning."

"Please…." Kagome's mother looked down. "Don't come back if you leave. You will not be welcome here."

"I understand." Kagome climbed up the steps and shut the door to her room quietly behind her. She stepped across the room to her dresser and picked up her phone. She flipped it open and pressed a button before bringing it to her ear. It rang once before it was answered.

"East."

"I need a place to stay. Preferably before the morning."

"Granted. Are you opposed to switching schools?"

"No." The line went dead. Kagome let the phone slip from her fingers to the floor as she covered her face with her hands. She sobbed silently in the center of her room.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Kagome grabbed her bag as she left her apartment. She locked the door behind her and then skipped out to the street. The gate slid shut behind her automatically.

"Higurashi! Walk with us!" Kagome waved at the two girls cheerfully but stayed on her side of the street. "Ehhh? I don't know why she thinks she's so much better than us." Kagome rolled her eyes and kept walking.

"Maybe because she lives in a high rise all on her own?"

Kagome sighed and pretended she couldn't hear the two girls gossiping about her behind her back, literally.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Higurashi."

"Busujima." The girl dipped her head. "What is it that you want?"

"I have come to ask if you are willing to spar again. I know that you have your duties as captain of the archery club, but you are one of my only challengers in this school."

"And you know I have grown bored." Kagome muttered.

"It's been rumored…."

"I'll see you then." Kagome made her way to her class and slipped into her seat. Busujima followed her.

"Higurashi…."

"Yes?"

"Are you busy after school?"

"Not really, why?" Kagome peered out the window.

"Would I be able to accompany home?"

"Busujima?"

"My home is empty. I am tired of it. I would like to spend some time with you." The purple haired girl smiled sadly.

"Walk with me after school?" Busujima beamed. "Call me Kagome if you're dropping in to my house to hang out."

"Saeko." She bowed her head. "Thank you."

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Kagome tilted her head to the side as the announcement trailed off. Suddenly there was screaming. The announcer began to beg for help. The class fell silent and then pandemonium erupted. Kagome watched as everyone rushed from the room, carelessly crushing classmates under their feet. She blinked when purple hair filtered into her line of sight.

"We should arm ourselves, shouldn't we?"

"Yea." Kagome stood. She grabbed her bag.

"We don't need that."

"My phone, keys and wallet."

"Do you think money will help us?" Saeko murmured.

"No. But it might eventually become useful." Kagome tipped her bag over and watched as her books fell out. "Besides, it can hold anything I'll need. Let's go." Saeko nodded.

"'It shouldn't be crowded. Most people fled to the school gates."

"I suppose." Kagome went through the open door and walked down the hallway. "It's a good thing were so wonderfully athletic, eh, Saeko?"

"Indeed."

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Kagome gathered her arrows and put them in a quiver before scooping her bow. She dithered for a moment about using finger guard and decided to take it just in case. She made her way over to where Saeko would be. She smiled when she saw the purple haired girl on her knees. Kagome walked into the room and grabbed a bokken.

"Are you ready Busujima?"

"As ready as possible." Kagome chuckled and looped her bokken into the tie of her bag. Technically, the bow should be able to smack attackers away, but it was a good fall back weapon. "Why did you not just take the bokken and leave the bow? It will eventually run out of ammo."

"But it might come in handy."

Saeko shrugged.

"Let's go."

Kagome followed. As they made their way out of the building Kagome grimaced at the emerging bloodstains. She tilted her head to the side.

"These guys….they're really messy." She bit her lip then came to a decision. She slipped a hair tie of her wrist and tied her hair back in a sloppy ponytail. She lowered her arms in time to see a blood stained teen wander listlessly into their hallway. "Hey! Are you alright?" She blinked when he rushed at her, teeth bared. It took less than half a second for Saeko to slam her bokken into his head and shove him away. "Well….that was odd."

"It was." Saeko murmured.

Kagome shrugged helplessly and slipped her bow off her shoulder.

"Well, I'm not asking anyone if their alright anymore if that's the reaction I get."

"Somehow, I doubt that's why he attacked." They continued on their way.

"Isn't that Tsuchimiya?" Kagome gestured to the girl hiding under the stairs.

"It is." Saeko and Kagome angled their walk towards her.

"Hey, Tsuchimiya…." Kagome called. Tsuchimiya turned.

"Higurashi! Busujima!" The brown haired girl ran towards them. "I was so scared! I didn't know if anyone was still alive!" She crashed into Kagome. "I was so scared!" Kagome froze when the girl coughed, spewing blood onto her shoes.

"Tell me Tsuchimiya, are you injured?" She said in a deceptively light voice.

"Takada, Takada bit me!" The girl wailed. "He tried to tear out my throat and I was so afraid! But then he fell down the stairs below us and didn't get back up so I came up here to hide!"

Kagome nodded.

"Tsuchimiya… Natsumi…" She trailed off as the girl coughed again, blood pouring from between her fingers and splashing onto the floor. "I'm sorry."

"What?" The brown haired girl looked up in time to see the bokken descend.

Saeko licked her lips when Kagome flicked her bokken to the side, shaking off the blood.

"Was that necessary?" She queried.

"She wouldn't have lived anyway with all the blood she was regurgitating."

"Still…."

"What if this is like the movies Saeko? What if you become one of Them?"

Saeko shuddered delicately.