Sorry about the lack of author's note and disclaimer in the last chapter but I just registered in the fanfic thing and forgot all about it in my excitement to post my story (if that's what happened. tried to fix it and don't know if it worked). Oh yea, my knowledge of Jap words is little but I'll put in what I can. Anyway. hope ya like it.

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of the other characters whose names are listed in the following. If I did I wouldn't still be a poor college student living at home with her dad. Any names from other series which are used may or may not have the same character traits and are used just because I like the names.

Anyhoo. on with the story.

California here I am.

So here she was. She made it all the way to California in the United States to her uncle Kyo's house in the high desert. Kagome left all that she knew in Japan to get away from that mess with Kouga, along with all those fights with her mother about taking over the shrine. Yeah everyone, especially Sota, was going to miss her but for once Kagome had to do something for herself. It was her life after all.

"I did right in getting away from it all," Kagome was trying to convince herself again while unpacking her things in her new room, "I need my sanity. I cannot spend the rest of my life crying over that silly wolf. He was not the end all and be all and here I can just start over with a clean slate."

"Hey Kagome, are you okay in there?" Uncle Kyo asked.

"Hai, Kyo-san! Just unpacking my things."

"Okay well dinner is ready so come on out before it gets cold. I made you that oden stuff that you like so much."

"Yosh! Be there in a few Kyo-sama," as Kagome heard him walk toward the kitchen to serve up the grub. "I can't believe I'm actually here," Kagome said to herself as she finished putting the last of her shirts in her drawer, "Well at least I'm not totally alone and doing the whole 'brave new world thing' I guess that makes it just a 'brave new university'. But it makes me feel better that I actually know someone out here and he knows where I'm coming from, well a few someones 'cause there are also my cousins Fakia, Takuto, Sesame, and Minako to help me out. Plus I never had problems making friends before so this should be a synch," Kagome pulled her hair back in to a ponytail and walked toward the door, "Sigh. I guess it's off to dinner then."

"Oh good you're here Kagome," Uncle Kyo said with a smile as she sat down to eat with him, "the oden is served my lady"

"Arigato Kyo-sama!"

"Just call me Kyo please. Geez Kagome I didn't know anyone could eat oden at such a speed," Uncle Kyo said with a surprised look and half a mouth full of food, "there's plenty left if you want seconds."

"Hai Kyo-sa-sorry. Kyo. um demo I have a question."

"Sure Kagome ask away. I'll answer you the best I can."

"Um Mama said that it was good that I was coming to live with you because you would understand why I had to get far away from Kouga and that the two of us would get along really well. do you know what she meant by that?"

"Well Kagome, I don't know exactly how to say this, but I left Japan to get away from your mother's sister. She decided that she didn't love me; but was going to torture me for the rest of my life about whether or not I could see my children, and how much money she could take me for in order to support those children. Since I didn't have a steady job at the time there was no way that I could support my children at the time to gain custody, so I tried the visitation rights thing for a while but after she had me arrested that was the last straw. So I left. I came to California to live near my sister and her children. They helped me get back on my feet and here I am today. Unfortunately I haven't seen my children in 3 years now but there is no helping it because it is so expensive to travel and the ex- wife takes half my money."

At this point Kagome is staring wide eyed and feels terrible about ranking her despair so high previously, "I'm so sorry Kyo, if I go back to visit Japan soon I will definitely give them your best wishes. I just wish there were something that I could do to be somewhat helpful."

"Look Kagome there isn't much which is going to help the situation because I cannot bring myself to be in Japan for long periods of time. I plan on going to the big events in my children's lives. I will be at all their graduations, and I know it is not enough to be called a father, but it is the best I can do unless something drastic changes and I win the lottery. But what I have learned is that it is not good to dwell on the past but rather to look to the future. And right now our future is us living in this house together. I'm hoping that we can at least be friends. I will do everything I can to help you adjust to things out here and on that note I believe that the first thing that we need to do is get you your license," Kyo said as he began to clear the table of dishes.

"You know Kyo I really think I'm going to like it here," Kagome said with a smile.

"I'm really glad Kagome I'm glad."