Author's note: Alright, this is the new and improved first chapter.
Everyone, send lots of love and candy to my new beta, Syrinx, who was
extremely helpful in making this story so much better (so far).
The story takes place in the small metropolis of Wichita, Kansas, at an unspecific time between the year 2001 and today.
~*~
Kagome grunted, lifting the last of the moving boxes into the back of the U- Haul* van. Shivering slightly in the cold December air, she turned to her best friend and former roommate, Sango. The girls looked at each other for only a moment before giving each other a tearful hug. Sango was the older sister Kagome never had.
And now she was leaving her protective nest of sweets and fast food and parties [for] her boyfriend's house, where she would begin her new job as a nurse at St. Francis Hospital. At twenty-seven, she felt like she was finally growing up.
Finally breaking from the other girl's hold, Kagome wiped away the tears forming in her eyes. Sango gave her friend a small smile. "If this guy ends up being another Miroku, I won't be responsible for my actions."
Kagome grinned. "Sango, if Inuyasha ends up being another Miroku, I'll supply you with machine guns, hand grenades, and nuclear warheads."
Two years before, Kagome had dated a guy called Miroku. He'd been cute and charming, smart, chivalrous, and so sweet that one taste would put a six- year-old into a diabetic coma.
He had not, however, been monogamous.
Exactly one month after moving in with Miroku, Kagome came home from work early, only to find her boyfriend and next door neighbor doing . . . things on their living room floor. Needless to say, the relationship was ended soon after.
Now Kagome had Inuyasha. He was introverted, but still always polite, and sweet when he wanted to be.
Kagome was shaken out of her silent reverie by the melodic ring tone of her cell phone. After checking the caller ID, she hit a button and put the phone to her ear.
"Hi, honey."
"Hi, yourself. How's the packing going?"
"Just finished, I'm getting ready to head for the apartment."
"Oh, good. I'm on my way now. Maybe after you get your stuff unpacked, we can go to dinner."
"That'd be great."
"Great! Hey, I have to go, there's just been a wreck and I have to concentrate on driving. I'll see you in thirty, 'kay?"
"Okay."
Kagome disconnected the call, then, putting the phone back in her purse, she gave her friend another hug.
"You'd better call me. I don't care if it's two in the morning, I'll listen all night if you want to talk." Kagome smiled again. She may have just been moving across town, but it felt like she was moving across the country. After living with Sango for the better part of her adult life, Kagome had become rather attached to the older girl.
"You'd better call me whenever there's an emergency, Sango. I'd never be able to forgive myself if something big happened and I wasn't here for it."
It was Sango's turn to grin now. Kagome had always been there, even when all her other friends had left. "Alright," she replied. "I'll call only when there's an emergency. Like I just found the greatest book in the world. Or I saw the most adorable boots at the mall. Or Kohaku got an A on his last spelling test."
After one last hug with her friend, Kagome got into the driver's seat of the U-Haul van. After buckling her seatbelt and starting the ignition, Kagome drove off toward her new home.
The story takes place in the small metropolis of Wichita, Kansas, at an unspecific time between the year 2001 and today.
~*~
Kagome grunted, lifting the last of the moving boxes into the back of the U- Haul* van. Shivering slightly in the cold December air, she turned to her best friend and former roommate, Sango. The girls looked at each other for only a moment before giving each other a tearful hug. Sango was the older sister Kagome never had.
And now she was leaving her protective nest of sweets and fast food and parties [for] her boyfriend's house, where she would begin her new job as a nurse at St. Francis Hospital. At twenty-seven, she felt like she was finally growing up.
Finally breaking from the other girl's hold, Kagome wiped away the tears forming in her eyes. Sango gave her friend a small smile. "If this guy ends up being another Miroku, I won't be responsible for my actions."
Kagome grinned. "Sango, if Inuyasha ends up being another Miroku, I'll supply you with machine guns, hand grenades, and nuclear warheads."
Two years before, Kagome had dated a guy called Miroku. He'd been cute and charming, smart, chivalrous, and so sweet that one taste would put a six- year-old into a diabetic coma.
He had not, however, been monogamous.
Exactly one month after moving in with Miroku, Kagome came home from work early, only to find her boyfriend and next door neighbor doing . . . things on their living room floor. Needless to say, the relationship was ended soon after.
Now Kagome had Inuyasha. He was introverted, but still always polite, and sweet when he wanted to be.
Kagome was shaken out of her silent reverie by the melodic ring tone of her cell phone. After checking the caller ID, she hit a button and put the phone to her ear.
"Hi, honey."
"Hi, yourself. How's the packing going?"
"Just finished, I'm getting ready to head for the apartment."
"Oh, good. I'm on my way now. Maybe after you get your stuff unpacked, we can go to dinner."
"That'd be great."
"Great! Hey, I have to go, there's just been a wreck and I have to concentrate on driving. I'll see you in thirty, 'kay?"
"Okay."
Kagome disconnected the call, then, putting the phone back in her purse, she gave her friend another hug.
"You'd better call me. I don't care if it's two in the morning, I'll listen all night if you want to talk." Kagome smiled again. She may have just been moving across town, but it felt like she was moving across the country. After living with Sango for the better part of her adult life, Kagome had become rather attached to the older girl.
"You'd better call me whenever there's an emergency, Sango. I'd never be able to forgive myself if something big happened and I wasn't here for it."
It was Sango's turn to grin now. Kagome had always been there, even when all her other friends had left. "Alright," she replied. "I'll call only when there's an emergency. Like I just found the greatest book in the world. Or I saw the most adorable boots at the mall. Or Kohaku got an A on his last spelling test."
After one last hug with her friend, Kagome got into the driver's seat of the U-Haul van. After buckling her seatbelt and starting the ignition, Kagome drove off toward her new home.