The struggle of working a 3rd shift is… staying up all day Friday… You begin to sleep like a normal person, when the next thing you know, your sleep schedule is screwed for Sunday night… Oh well, life's a bitch.. Here's the next installment. I appreciate the reviews of constructive criticism and love. All I hear in the back ground is Dora the Explorer and Boots the monkeys annoying voices… toddlers… Help!

Disclaimer: still no rights to Inuyasha…

Snap Decision

Kagome turned away and ran from her friends. She didn't know what had happened. Inuyasha and Koga were fighting, Inuyasha winning. She yelled to Inuyasha to sit down, only wanting him to chill out, not be slammed into Koga's stomach pinning him to the floor. She ran to her Explorer and drove off. Leaving her bass and amp in Sango's basement. Not sure of what to do or where to go, she went to the lonely estate that was now to be called home.

'I need to leave. I don't belong here.' random thoughts encircling her mind, while she threw different clothes and necessities into her backpack and suit case. The phone began ringing, but her mind told her not to answer. They finally gave up and her phone quit ringing. Dragging her suit case and back pack down the steps, the phone started up again.

She went to the den and looked up the number for a cab company, and had them pick her up. The note to her mother finished, Kagome left the keys for the Explorer and the house with the note on the desk in the den. Then left it as quick as she had come to it.

"Why doesn't she answer the phone? I'm sure she went home. She doesn't know the roads well." grumbled a perturbed Inuyasha holding the receiver.

"Do you think we should just go over to her house?" spoke a solemn, and no longer happy Sango.

"Why not, there's no answer on the phone." was the reply as Inuyasha's cell phone was thrown to the ground, busting it. Sango showed Koga out, Inuyasha following behind. They waited for Koga to leave in his old Ford Ranger, then headed to Kagome's in the silver 2000 Honda Civic which belonged to Sango.

They were happy to see the Explorer in the circular driveway, but something was amiss. He made Sango wait on the porch, and climbed up to the balcony. The door wasn't locked, but upon entering found the closet wide open, things strewn around throughout the room. Yelling out her name he rushed throughout the house searching, but she was gone. He opened the door for Sango, eyes heavy with fear and sadness, ears drooping, head down, handing her the note as she walked inside. Sango looked down, afraid of what the letter would contain, and began to read.

Mom,

I'm sorry. I don't belong here. I have to leave. Please, do not look for me. I need to live on my own for awhile. Tell Inuyasha I'm sorry, I will think of him often, hope he can forgive me, and that I do want to see him again. Give Sota a hug for me, let Sango and Miroku know that I will miss them, and hope to see them again. I will call, to let you know that I am okay. Please forgive me for being so rash.

Love Always,

Kagome

'why did she leave?' wondered Sango, tears that had welled up in her eyes breaking free. She had become close to her so quick, she'd never really had a "girl friend" that she could tell things to. Her only friends through school were Inu and Miroku. Kagome was so sweet, passionate and sincere about anything and everything she did. She could feel the anger, confusion, and sadness boiling inside Inu. She returned the note to Inu, and went to the Civic, cranked it up and waited for Inu.

He closed the front door, replaced the note, and exited the way he had gone in. Slamming the passengers side door, after getting in.

"Go to Miroku's. We need to find her." he ordered as Sango put the car in drive.

They sped into Miroku's driveway, barging into his parents home, dragging a confused Miroku into the backseat of the Civic without saying a word. After no explanation of what was happening and why he was dragged out in the middle of watching his 'Family Guy' marathon in worn out, faded black JNCO shorts and Social Distortion shirt, he was permitted to find out what was happening, explained by a very disgruntled Hanyou in the passengers seat.

"What do you mean, Kagome left?" was the shocked and confused question Miroku asked.

"She left. Split. Adios. Gone. Don't you comprehend?" sarcastically spat by Sango through clenched teeth.

"I understand, Sango. I am just shocked and confused by her reasons. She more then likely has her bank card on her. Have you called the Airports or Bus Stations? She may have gone back to New York." he interjected with a little venom in the beginning, combing his messy hair back through his fingers.

"We're doing that now. I didn't see her card, and it was the first thing I thought of." Inuyasha replied turning his head to look out the window. He was looking into cab's they passed, hoping to maybe see Kagome in the backseat.

"well, here you go young lady. That will be $40.00." said the cab driver.

"This is all I have. I have no cash, just a bank card." she replied, eyes full of tears and fear.

"There is an ATM right there. Get the money out and bring it to me." the cab driver pointed out, clearly annoyed.

Kagome pulled her suitcase and backpack along and withdrew $100.00, and gave the cab driver the fee. The man looked at her with disgust and sped off down the road. She looked up at the buildings that surrounded her in this new concrete jungle her mother had moved her to. Wiping her eyes, she saw a café at the end of the block, decided to start looking for a job, and a place to live. It was a last minute decision, but she remained in Los Angeles.

The waitress came up, and greeted her. She looked up with red puffy eyes at the waitress. The waitress was young, maybe a few years older then Kagome. She had shoulder length black hair, and red eyes, which threw Kagome off a little. The name tag on the light blue cotton uniform read Kagura.

"Are you okay?" the waitress asked curiously raising her left eyebrow.

"Not really. Can I get a Pepsi?" Kagome sighed, looking down at the menu the waitress had brought to her.

"Yeah. I'll be right back. Look through there and see if anything catches your eye." she said offering a smile, then walking off.

Flipping through the menu, she didn't find anything she was hungry for, and laid it to the side. Kagura returned with her drink, and sat across from her in the booth.

"Why so down?" she asked, her eyes wide with curiosity at the lonely, and confused looking girl in front of her.

"I can't explain it really." muttered Kagome, pushing the straw out the wrapping and taking a sip of the Pepsi.

"My name is Kagura. What is yours?" she asked, getting clear signals that the girl wasn't going to talk about her problems, and quickly changing the subject.

"Kagome. I just moved to the 'City of Angels' three days ago." she answered, half-heartedly.

"Where are you from? You have a nice authentic New England accent." Kagura pressed on.

"New York. You?" Kagome said, taking another sip of Pepsi.

"Interesting. I'm from Seattle, but I've lived here most of my life. I've always wanted to go to New York." she said. Desperately searching her mind for more questions to ask the girl. To Kagura she looked like she was going to throw herself off a tall building, and was slightly worried about her.

"Neat-o," Kagome began, rather dry and sarcastically, and eyed the girl across from her, "Do you know of any apartments for rent? Are you guys hiring by any chance?"

Kagura looked at the girl in front of her and smiled, "well, this place is always looking for a few good waitresses, and I have an extra room in my apartment."

"Do you think I could apply here then?" Kagome asked, her blue eyes hoping she'd be able to get work there.

"Yeah. Sure. I'll grab you an application. Have you waitresses before?"

"Umm, for the last four years at a small coffee shop outside of Manhattan."

Kagura smiled and went to the counter, grabbing an application for her. She returned to Kagome, giving her a pen to fill it out, and sat back down across from her in the booth.

"I have no place to live. What should I put down as an address or phone number?" Kagome scoffed.

"Here, let me see." Kagura said taking the application and pen from Kagome, "There, you can stay with me, I have an extra room for rent anyways. I'm going to hire you. But, I must tell you know, I don't like the septum piercing. I don't mind your eyebrow, but your bull ring has to go. "

Kagome looked with confusion at the girl. "Can you hire me?"

"I'm in charge of the wait staff here. Finish filling that out while I grab your paperwork." she said, smiling to the girl who looked like she finally had some hope, and leaving her to finish the application.

"She's here somewhere still. I know she is." Inuyasha complained as they drove out of the bus station. Only the 10th they'd been to so far that day. They went to the airport first, hoping to find her there, but none of the airlines had information on her. It was getting close to six in the afternoon, and they still hadn't accomplished much except wasting a tank of gas.

"Why don't we get her account number and see if she has used her card. It would lead us to her." suggested Sango tired from riding around.

"I didn't think of that." Inuyasha said scolding himself that he hadn't thought of that already. With that, they headed back to his home, in hopes to find information in his dad's desk on her account. What they found was not what Inuyasha had expected to find, and made Inuyasha decide to disown his father and brother.

*Well, that is all for now. I'm getting really tired, and my back is beginning to be bothersome. Well, R&R. I hope you liked it. J

Ja~Ne