Caving In
Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha or the characters. That privilege is reserved to the most honorable Rumiko Takehashi. I bow down to her awesomeness!
A/N- thoughts are in italics… hint hint. I will update as soon as I am able. Please review either at the end of chapters or when you are finished completely, either is fine w/ me. Thank you for choosing to read this fanfic! It is the first I've ever posted. I appreciate all types of feedback!
Chapter 1: Train Ride
The moon was still out. It was four o'clock in the morning. It was January 7th, 2010 and it was snowing. The white flurries froze to the window pane for where there was snow, freezing rain would follow. This was a morning where those who had to be on the road early could possibly hit an unknown patch of black ice, skidding into possible injury or death.
That's where she came in. At nineteen years of age, Kagome Higurashi was awake at four in the morning to get ready for college. Her minor in music, but her major was the real reason why she thought of other people's lives every day. She had just put on her shoes and finished getting her hair up in a messy bun, when her mother called up the stairs for her.
"Kagome? Dear, do you want some breakfast before you leave for school?"
Kagome called back to her, "Sure Mom! I'm coming down now."
She barreled down the stairs loudly like an elephant stampede. She was in a rush to beat the traffic she just heard from the television in her brother's closed off room.
"Sheesh, sis. Ya' think you could slow down and be a bit quieter? Grandpa's still asleep." Sota whispered out to her.
Kagome froze in mid-step on the stairs. "Oops… Sorry." She whispered back.
"S'ok. Good luck today." He replied sleepily.
"Thanks, Sota. Now get back to bed." Kagome smiled gently at her brother's door and continued quickly, but quietly, down the stairs.
She met her mother at the bottom of the staircase and explained that she couldn't eat breakfast just yet, but that after she returned home she would sit down for a nice meal with her family. Her mother smiled, handed Kagome her navy blue school bag, and told her not to be too late. The next thing Kagome knew, she was running out the front door with her bag slung over her shoulder and a pop tart in her hand.
On the way to school
Tokyo was a gorgeous city, but it was even more beautiful covered in a blanket of snow. The city looked like something out of a picture book. It was a wonder to everyone. It hadn't snowed like this since a few years ago. All of the younger students, high school and below had no school today because of the ice on the streets. The college students weren't so lucky. The wealthier college students usually took the Shinkansen- or the "bullet train". The other average college students, like Kagome, took the Hitachi- the limited express trains. Quickly, she stepped past the ticket booths, she reached her train. As soon as she boarded the train, Kagome grabbed the handle above to steady herself for departure. A female voice over the intercom stated the places and arrival times, and then all was silent except the creaking of the train moving along the rusty track.
Three young, teenage girls- sitting in front of Kagome and to her left by the door- were whispering and texting on their cell phones. Behind Kagome was a couple, about her age, snuggled together under a dark brown trench coat laughing quietly. To her right was a little boy who had fallen asleep in his grandmother's lap. The elderly lady smiled at her grandson and brushed his bangs from his eyes. Kagome had to smile at all of the warmth around her. Love and friendship were the most intoxicating feelings in the world to her.
It seemed like forever for only a 45 minute train ride. The feminine voice came over the intercom again, announcing Kagome's stop. Letting go of the handle, she began to walk towards the sliding door when someone nearly shoved her into the couple under the coat.
"SORRY!" The pushy guy called back to her. He seemed like he was in a hurry by how fast he ran, black ponytail swishing behind him.
'Youkai.' Kagome thought, shaking her head. 'Always in a hurry.'
She eventually made it off of the train and out of the station, freely walking onward to Tokyo's most prestigious medical university.
