(I do NOT own any of these characters. Except perhaps Chitose. I created her, she's my baby...and Shiruka, she's mine too. But all of the copywrited "Inuyasha" characters are property of Rumiko Takahashi and company.)

[Sesshoumaru] Why're you being so formal?

[Inuyasha]Yea, it's annoying!

[Me] Well, excuse me for having manners...

[Inuyasha]What was that?!

[Me] You heard you pompus idiot!!!

[Inuyasha] Why you bratty, little-Get back here!!!

[Me] *Is running from the rabid dog* Hasumaria!

[Sesshoumaru]She means enjoy, though by now-she's probaby all the way to Hokkaido .

[Me] I'm turning you into a snivveling wuss after this! Mark my words you darn mutt!!!

[Inuyasha] Do and DIE!!!

[Sesshoumaru] *sigh* I may as well go break them up...such a pain...

Ch.1

~Hurting~

Dear Anyone,

This is a small cry for help. Though, I don't want your help, I have to ask. I am not coming back to 'reality' now. Not when these voices have me trapped-

"Writing another suicide note I see..." Inuyasha gave a jump and deleted everything on the computer screen. He turned angrilly to see Sesshoumaru walking into his room. His suave attitude made Inuyasha cold. Sesshoumaru leaned on the edge of the computer desk, and stared at Inuyasha. He seemed amused. "Do you really mean to kill yourself this time?" his voice spoke coyly. Inuyasha didn't look at him.

"Why shouldn't I? It's not like He won't try to anyway." A bitter taste was left in Inuyasha's mouth. Sesshoumaru stood.

"Quit acting like you're in Hell...It's damn generous for him to take you in now that your foul Human mother is dead. You're luckier than most!" Sesshoumaru wasn't yelling, but he might as well have been. Inuyasha's head went down to lay on the edge of the desk, and Sesshoumaru headed for the door.

"How would you know, Sesshoumaru?...He never hurts you..." That stopped Sesshoumaru in his steps but he was gone a second later. He was always gone. Inuyasha lifted his head and looked at the clock. It was 7:45 am...Time for work. Sighing, he got up slowly, not letting the bruises bother him, and walked into the closet. He found a ball cap, the one with the machanics shop logo on it, and threw on a clean shirt before quietly sneaking out of his room. His fa-,no, Inu Taisho would be too drunk to get up, but still he was careful. He'd learned one too many times what the man could do in his drunken state. He caught sight of Him slumped in the easy chair only a couple feet from the T.V.. He was asleep, he could see, and he knew he wouldn't be awake for a long time. Sighing out of relief, he grabbed his keys and went outside, locking the door behind him. Painfully, he stood straight, walking down the apartment steps in a hurry. He was still concious of what was behind him and how fast it could catch up. Though, he doubt anything would happen, there were too many people living in these apartments. Including the police chief, Kouga Ookami.

**

Kouga lifted his head from the morning paper and looked out the window as the Inu-hanyou walked past his apartment window. He lived just down the hall, but he knew nothing of him. Well, besides his criminal record. Both his father, Inu Taisho, and brother, Sesshoumaru Taisho, had clear records. Not even a speeding ticket on either. That one, however, his record was at least 5 miles long. Wracked with breaking and entering charges, boosting cars, shoplifting, theft...he was a mess. Sometimes he wonderred why he was like that. But the thought ususally left his mind once the halfbreed was out of sight. He'd looked his record up a few times since the Taisho family had moved in, it never changed. There was no mistake. The boy was an ingrate and a mongrel. It was a wonder his father kept him. Though, at only 17, he really had no choice...did he? Once Inuyasha had passed, Kouga returned to his breakfast. His wife, Ayame, would be up soon and he knew how much she hated his obsessing over the dog-boy. She always said that there had to be a reason he was like he was. Of course, she also said Kouga was a police chief because he had an internal thirst for violence. Why had he married a therapist?

**

The sound of a motorcycle coming down the street made Kagome crash to the window as HE rounded the corner. Souta lifted his plate of pancakes as his sister knocked into the table, as usual, and her mother tilted to the side, shifting her frying pan so it wouldn't hit the girl, as usual. She just made it to the window as Inuyasha sped past, a blur of red, black and white. Giving her daily gigglish squeal she skipped out of the room. Souta set down his breakfast again and Kagome heard him speak as she reached the stairs.

"Scary how she does that..."

"It's only a crush, Souta, all girls her age have them..."

"Doesn't mean she needs to ruin breakfast evey morning."

"I can hear you!!!" Kagome called. Souta peaked out of the kitchen door.

"Good!" He shouted as he stuck his tongue out and pulling a stretchy face. Kagome stuck her nose into the air and, picking up her bag, walked out the door.

"Stupid Souta...what does he know anyway?"

"Plenty!" Souta shouted from the kitchen window. Spinning on her heals she picked up a rock and threw it at the shutters. It hit just beside the window, causing Souta to jump back inside.

"Serves you right!!! stupid little eavesdropper!!!" She screached.

"I can hear you!!!" Souta hollered. Kagome was starting down the shrine steps now, they ran alongside the road. This way was just more conveniant than walking on the sidewalk.

"Good!" She shouted back before the shrine was out of sight.

**

Sango looked up as Inuyasha drove into the "Speed and Paint" parkinglot on that good-for-nothing, fixerup of a motorcycle. She'd always hated that bike. She was always complaining about it, but Inuyasha always just said it needed a paint job. More like he needed a new bike. He had forgone his helmet again. How many times did Sango have to drill it in his head to wear it? Did he want to die? The hanyou walked in through the front door punching in and leaning on the front desk.

"Morning Sango." He said blandly. She was busy pretending to be busy but spared a moment to look up at him again.

"Hey..." She pretended to look down at the forms in front of her, but looked thrugh her bangs to examine him. He wore his usual red "Muscle-Shirt" as Sango liked to call it. It wasn't a muscle shirt at all, just a plain red t-shirt. It fit him fine, giving a lovely view, however faint, of his well-formed chest. He really was built well. If he'd bothered to go to school you might think he was on one of the sports teams. He wouldn't get on one, though. He loved teasing and doing impressions of the jocks at the local highschool. He and Sango had a lot of fun doing that on their lunch break, around noon when work was light. after a few minutes Inuyasha got up again, somwhat stiffly from Sango's view, and headed out back to finish where he left off on the old cadilac from yesterday. Sango watched him until the door closed behind him and she had to get back to work...though nothing really major happened at 8:00 in the morning. Nothing major...until this morning...

**

"Higurashi Kagome?" Yuka elbowed Kagome as she slept on her desk.

"Kagome! You're names being called..." Kagome's eyes opened slowly and her head shot up.

"The answer is 8!!!" She shrieked. Yuka hit her forehead and fell over in her desk. The teacher pulled her glasses down on her nose.

"It's rolecall, Kagome, I hope you won't fall asleep durring the actual lesson...though, you seem to be prepared..." A sweatdroplet formed on the back of Kagome's head as the class began laughing. Sighing she looked over at Eri, Yuka, and Ayumi in defeat. "And, Kagome?" She looked back at the teacher as she pushed her glasses back up the bridge of her nose. "The answer is 12, dear.". This caused the class to laugh harder as Kagome's head went down again, this time behind a book. "Alright...Harada, Ino?"

"Present, Ma'am."

"Good, Ichimura Kaname?"

"Present!"

"Very good, Saito Itsumei?"

"Here."

"Todou, Sasuke?"

"Present."

"Taisho, Inuyasha?" Silence fell over the classroom as the teacher spoke his name. He hadn't come to school for nearly 3 weeks now, the hanyou boy no one liked, everyone feared. With a sigh the teacher made a mark in her book and carried on. Kagome looked out the window. She had always liked seeing him in class. He sat only two rows ahead of her when he came. But then he stopped coming. She had to stop being near him. She knew she was worried about him, but she really didn't know why. She knew nothing about him except his name. She didn't know where he lived, she didn't know how old he was or what he liked. She had never even talked to him...but she was still worried. She still feared for him, thought about him. Why did it scare her so much when she couldn't see him? When she didn't know if he was okay or not? Why was she afraid of anything that might happen to him? She sighed and layed her cheek in her hand as she settled into her usual not-paying-attention pose. When would she see him again? The door opened just then.

**

"Yes, Ma'am, I understand...I'll be there with him soon." Sesshoumaru spoke quietly into the phone. He was standing in the kitchen, the telephone held to his ear. No expresson crossed his face, it remained blank as he set down the phone back on its holder. After a moment he pulled back his hand and slammed it against the wall. If his father got wind of this Inuyasha would be dead before morning. He sighed as he fought down his own anger at the hanyou boy and walked out into the livingroom, toward the front door.

"Who wazit?" Sesshoumaru didn't look at his father as he slurred his words. His hand was on the doorknob now. Inu Taisho spoke again. "Wha'd they want?" Sesshoumaru blinked and looked at his father, his mind ready and waiting with a lie.

"Work...I have to go in for a few minutes..." He said it coolly. Inu Taisho gave him a bleary nod then let his head tip to the side as he closed his eyes for another nap. Sesshoumaru watched his father for a few more minutes then walked out the door. He was walking quickly down the stairs, almost running. He had to get there fast. If that woman called back, Inuyasha would need a miracle.

"Damnit! Why didn't you just go to school like you're supposed to?!" He shouted as if his brother could hear him. "Shit!...shit shit shit!...You stupid kid!" He was shouting loudly now. Various people were opening their doors or looking out their windows at him as he trampled down the halls. He didn't bother to look at them, though. He was much too busy with his argument with his invisible brother. He slammed the door of his car once he was in it. Starting it up quickly, he jammed his foot down on the gas pedal and backed out of the parking space. He rolled the stearing wheel fast and turned onto the street. He was getting angrier and angrier with every passing minute, driving around the corner and up the street. He spun into the parking lot of the "Speed and Paint" Mechanics shop and was out of the car, not bothering to shut off the engine. He startled the girl behind the desk as he stomped angrilly through the door. She stared at him in shock as he reached her.

"Y-yes? May I help you?" She asked timidly. His scowl intensified as the words left his mouth.

"Inuyasha! Get him for me..." The girl nodded and turned, leaning through a door that opened up into a garage. He could hear her call out to someone and a second later Inuyasha was walking through the door, looking at him in confusion.

**

Sesshoumaru's glare was narrow as Inuyasha walked through the door into the lobby. Sango said that he was wanted at the front desk, Not that his brother was standing in there, looking ready to kill him. Slowly Inuyasha walked froward, around the counter. Sesshoumaru's eyes watched him as he neared him. He almost croaked.

"Sango, punch me out, I gotta leave early today..." Sango nodded as he walked around Sesshoumaru. His brother gave him a rough shove to the door and followed him. Sesshoumaru was completely pissed off and Inuyasha could tell. He could see something on the verge of hatred in his glare when he had come in. They were in the parkinglot, now, Sesshoumaru stalking his little brother to the car like a parent might stalk a child that had thrown a tantrum. Neither of them spoke to the other. In fact, both of them were in complete silence until both car doors had been shut, seatbelts buckled, and Sesshoumaru was driving toward the highschool. That's when his angry voice made Inuyasha jump.

"Are you really that serious about fulfilling your death wish?" he snarled. Inuyasha didn't answer nor did he look anywhere but out the window. "You know if he hears about this, you'll be in it deep, right? You're just fucking lucky that I picked up the phone when you're school counciler called. You almost weren't that lucky! She said you haven't showed up for class for at least 2 weeks, if not three. I don't know what the hell is going through your mind...you pull shit like this-"

"I just forgot to go..." Inuyasha said still not letting his eyes leave the window. Sesshoumaru looked at him then back at the road.

"Inuyasha, for pete's sake...you can't just forget to go..." He was rubbing his temple tiredly as he pulled into a space in the highschool parkinglot.

"Just shut up! It's my buisness, Not yours! Just forget it- you didn't care at all when he beat me last time, why should you now? If I want to fucking throw away my fucking life, it's my damn choice! So just eat your lectures and leave me alone!" Inuyasha growled and shoved open the door. Slamming it behind himself he stomped away toward the school. He could feel tears stinging the edges of his eyes but refused to release them. Shoving his hands into his pockets he headed for school. His ears caught the sound of footsteps behind him and he turned to see Sesshoumaru following in silence. His face held no expression as he caught up easily with his younger brother. Inuyasha didn't look at him as he walked beside him, he didn't comment on it at all. He could smell Sesshoumaru beside him, he could smell that scent of spice and beer that reminded him so much of their father. But, Sesshoumaru wasn't their father. He looked just like him, was proud just like him, had eyes that were just like his. But he wasn't their father; He was nothing like their father, was he? It made him nervous to think what Sesshoumaru would be like if he were. If he let alcohol grab hold of him, just as their father had. Something touched his shoulder and he looked over slightly to see it was Sesshoumaru's hand. His voice was almost gentle as he spoke to Inuyasha.

"Just go to class, I'll sign you in." Inuyasha nodded and walked up the stairs as they entered the school doors.

He was upstairs in seconds and outside the classroom that was his. He was holding his breath as he slid the door open, catching the attention of the entire class.

**

Kagome's eyes met the hanyou's form immediately as he stepped into the study hall. The teacher turned from the blackboard and looked at the door.

"Yes, may I help you?" She asked gently. Inuyasha nodded.

"Inuyasha, Taisho...I am here for class." He said it plainly. He wasn't standing straight, more slouchy and hunched over. Like he couldn't stand upright. But everyone knew that wasn't the case. If he were in a fight, he'd stand up enough to tower his opponent. His long white hair was tied in a ponytail and he wore the uniform jacket over jeans and a red t-shirt. His goldenrod eyes looked at the floor, not the teacher as they should have. She didn't seem to mind, however.

"Ah, yes...go to your seat, and open to page 147 in your english text." Inuyasha nodded and headed for his seat. The entire class had their eyes on him as he headed for his desk. He walked past it and went to the window. He was beside Kagome once he did. The rest of the class returned to their text work while Kagome got up. Inuyasha's ears tilted backwards and he turned to look at her. She came to stand beside him at the window and could see he was looking down at a man in the parkinglot. His hair was long and silvery, just like Inuyasha's own. He was a tall figure, much older than them, she could tell. He wore a pair of jeans and a white buttoned shirt. His footsteps were smooth as he headed for a car. Kagome spoke carefully. Tenderly trodding on the hanyou's being.

"Is he your father?" she asked gently. Inuyasha looked at her and shook his head. A small, sad smile crossed his face.

"Nah, my brother...actually makin' me come again.". He sounded upset somehow, but she couldn't tell why. She leaned on the glass and watched the man until he got into his car.

"He looks like you..." She said gently. That caught Inuyasha's attention. He looked at her skeptically and she looked back with a kind smile.

"Ya think?" he sounded surprised. She smiled wider and nodded. He looked back out the window again, then back to her. She gave a wave and headed back to her seat.

**

Inuyasha watched her in silence until she sat down. She was only two seats back from him. Why hadn't he seen her before? Maybe he just hadn't been looking. He walked back to his own seat now, the teacher hadn't bothered getting after either of them, it was almost lunch time anyway, what was the use? The lunch bell rang and the desks were forgotten as students went to go see their friends. Some sat on the floor, some stayed in their desks but grouped them together, some even stood to eat while they chatted. Inuyasha headed for the window again. That's where he lived when he bothered to go to school. That same girl walked up to him shyly. Her long black hair hung down around her shoulders, chocolate eyes looked at him timidly. She wasn't tall, though neither was she short. She was just your average girl...So why was she busying herself with him? What made him so special?

"You wanna eat lunch with me?" She asked giving him a smile. He stared at her in silence and she motioned for her desk. Standing up he followed her and they sat quietly. Kagome ate, while Inuyasha looked out the window. She tilted her head at him after a little while, he saw her out of the corner of his eye. "What's wrong?" She asked it gently. He shook his head, not looking at her. She watched him for a few more minutes, then pushed her lunchbox-half empty-toward him. "You want the rest? I won't eat it anyway...and you didn't bring anything.". Of course he didn't bring anything, He hadn't planned on coming. He looked at her, then the lunchbox, and back again.

"I have money...I'll get something later." She looked down at her desk blushing.

"Oh, alright..." She sounded pitiful and Inuyasha jumped.

"Don't you start crying!"

"*Sniff* I'm not..."

"Yes you are! Look, I didn't mean it like that! I mean...I can't eat anything. I don't want to get sick-" He stopped abruptly. What was he doing?! He was telling her his routine! He was telling her why he didn't eat until after he saw his dad! His eyes widened and he pushed back from the desk and stood up quickly. She was watching him worriedly.

"What-what's wrong?" She sounded scared. Of course she was scared, they were all scared of him, they were afraid of the halfbreed. He turned and walked away, out of the classroom and into the hallway. He was halfway down the stairs when he felt small hands grab his arm. He looked down to see her face looking up at his. She held his arm tightly. He didn't pull it away. He didn't know her, but he didn't pull it away. "I'm sorry, Inuyasha." She mumbled. He stared at her in silence then spoke in a light tone.

"Who are you?" She looked a little relieved that he didn't sound angry with her.

"My name's Kagome...Higurashi, Kagome." She said. He grinned.

"Cute name." he grinned wider when she blushed and had to look at the ground. "Well, then, Kagome, as a 'thank you' for lunch, want me to take you somewhere tonight?" She looked up at him again.

"You mean like a date?" He nodded and she turned tomatoe red. "Wh-where did you want to go?" He grinned even wider.

"My house?" She released his arm and turned fire-engine red.

"What?!" He waved his hand.

"I was joking...How 'bout a movie? at eight?" She lightened up in color a bit and nodded giving him a nice smile.

"Alright..." The bell for class rang again and Kagome turned, heading for class. Inuyasha continued down the stairs. "Where're you going? Class is starting." He shrugged lightly and continued, calling back to her.

"Ditching." He said plainly. He stopped and looked back at her to see her staring at him like he was insane. Sighing he followed her giving a defeated 'Alright, alright'.

End Chapter 1

(Yes! I'm finally an author...I have something to say...HI MOM!!! Okay, with that over with, Hi! I am the wonderful Taka-chan!!! okay so I'm not that wonderful, but I'm okay, so I'll manage. Actually, I've been writeing for years, I have a closet full of anime Fictions that I need to throw out. They're all crap. But, If I find one that I think you all might like, I'll post it. This is the closest thing I've had to published work so I'm very excited!!! I feel very fortuanate that people actually might want to read my work. As long as no one steals this. I have copywrite over this story as a Doujinshi story and I don't want my first work to be stolen! That would be very mean of you!!! [How could you do something like that to her?!] Oh! let me introduce you to my trusty bodyless voice! She is so nice to me! [Shut up moron, you sound like a moron!] *cries* You're so mean to me...)