Disclaimer: I don't own a lotta stuff especially the characters mentioned in this fic.

Hotaru sighed as she stared out the window of her living room. he only sound in the room was the "tap tap" of the rain on the window. Her father was sitting in the corner staring into space. He had been like this ever since Hotaru had returned to live with him after living with Setsuna, Haruka and Michiru. Hotaru could tell something was wrong the minute she had greeted her father. He just wasn't himself. There was no emotion when he talked and talking was something he seemed to have forgotten how to do. And just this morning Hotaru had found anti-depression pills in the bathroom cabinet. Something was wrong. Hotaru could sense it.

Suddenly Professor Tomoe got up. "I have a splitting headache, I need some fresh air." He said walking towards the door.

Suddenly something stirred in Hotaru. Herself and her father used to always take walks together. Tears pricked the corners of her eyes. Maybe it was because she wasn't as cheerful as she used be? Perhaps it was her fault her father was acting this way. Tears rolling down her face, Hotaru asked her father, "Papa, have I done something wrong?"

Professor Tomoe looked at his tearful daughter. "No! Of course not honey I just need some time alone to think things through." With that he left the house and walked down the rainy terrace out into the street.

Professor Tomoe sighed. "Perhaps my sister's right." He thought. "Maybe I cannot be a good father to Hotaru while I'm like this. Perhaps I should have left her with those kind women who have been looking after her for the past few months.... but I would prefer if she stayed with family." Having decided what he would do Professor Tomoe returned home.

Back at home Professor Tomoe found Hotaru in her room crying her eyes out. It broke his heart to see this. It was just a year after the mistress 9 incident and he was subjecting her to such pain with his depression. Professor Tomoe couldn't stand seeing her like this. He knew she found it extremely difficult even to smile and his mood swings were just making it worse.

He sat down at the edge of Hotaru's bed. She started. She had not noticed her Father there. Professor Tomoe wiped the tears from her face and embraced his frail daughter. "I'm sorry, Hotaru. Its been hard all this time you have been away from me. I've been very depressed. I was looking forward to raising you all over again and not to make the mistakes I made last time. But when I saw you all grown up again my hope was gone. I'm a terrible father."

Hotaru's eyes widened in shock. "Of course you're not, papa, how could you say such a thing!?"

Professor Tomoe smiled. "Well not right now I'm not. At least that's what the doctors have told me. Hotaru I've decided I can never be a good father to you while I'm like this so I'm going to send you to stay with your aunt at the other side of Tokyo."

Hotaru was about to protest, but then she thought it best not to. She didn't want to put her father under any more strain. "Yes papa." She said quietly.

"Good girl." He replied quietly. He hugged her once again before leaving the room.

When he was gone Hotaru once again burst into tears. Why did so many bad things have to happen to her?

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Kagome threw her pen frustratedly against her bedroom wall. "I'm never gonna get this!" she wailed. "Stupid geometry! Stupid School!" Kagome jumped crossly onto her bed. "I'm not going to get anywhere at this rate! I need attend school more or else I might as well drop out." She said to herself. She lay on her bed just listening to the pitter-patter of the rain for a while, when suddenly she felt something.

"The presence of a shikon shard!" she cried out. Kagome tried to sense the direction it was coming from but the feeling had left just as suddenly as it has come. "Oh its nothing." Kagome thought. "I'm just tired from all this studying." She decided to take a nap to clear her mind.

After what seemed like a minute, her Mother woke her up. "Kagome can I talk to you for a moment?" she asked.

"Sure." Said Kagome groggily, rubbing her eyes as her mother sat down in her desk chair.

"Oh where to start." said Kagome's mother in a rush. Kagome squinted at her suspiciously. Her mother was using the tone of voice she used when she was about to tell Kagome something that she would be less than pleased to hear about.

"Well it looks like you'll be sharing your room for the next few months." Said Mrs.Higurashi.

"Huh?" replied Kagome, her eyebrows raised.

"Your cousin, Hotaru, is going to be staying with us for a bit, while her father recovers from his depression. And you'll most likely be having to share your room with her." Carried on Mrs. Higurashi.

Kagome thought back. Where had she met Hotaru before? She vaguely remembered meeting her a couple of times at various family gatherings. "Is she that shy, quiet girl with short black hair?" asked Kagome.

Mrs Higurashi nodded. "Well it won't be too bad I guess," said Kagome thoughtfully. "I won't be here most of the time and if she annoys anyone it would probably be Sota."

"So you're not upset?" Mrs. Higurashi asked relieved.

"Not at all!" replied Kagome her eyes shining. "I've always wanted a little sister!"

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Okay this is my first attempt at a fanfic I hope you enjoyed. More chapters to come and please review! ^_^