Hey, people like this story!! ...

...another fic to add to my list of 'To Update'...

Oh well!! I doubt I'll have a lot of time when school starts again, so I have to, under any (most...) circumstances, finish these fanfics...

1. Caught in the Rain - Oh my goodness...I swear, I seriously have to get down to business with this fanfic. --

2. Trust and Betrayal - I like how the story is going, and it's not all that long either. If I hurry, maybe I'll get it done before August. =)

3. The High Rankers - Ehh...this ain't such a long fanfic either, so I think it'll be done around...middle of August...if I'm very, very fast at updating, which isn't very likely.

And of course, this fanfic. This one, once again, isn't very long. I have let go of trying to write very long stories.... I won't be able to finish them. I really want to know how people find time to write fanfiction on a daily basis in their lives...::sigh::. Alright...

Oh yes. Many people asked about the 'crying for different reasons'. I was going to say later on in the fic...but, since so many people asked...

In general, they were crying for pretty much the same reason...but Kagome, being older and more responsible and...being Kagome, she felt really bad for Souta, who's only 10 years in this story. She lost her father at a very young age, so understood Souta's pain, and how he would think about the situation.

Souta, on the other hand, was crying because mama and gramps died, and he felt that life was being a bitch to him. He thought that their deaths would cause more pain for him because he's younger.

So, basically, Kagome cries for Souta, and Souta cries for himself, and when they cry together, they cry for their parents.

Review Responses:

Smurf2005: Hey thanks for reviewing. You review all my stories. ="3 Well, I hope that little...explanation in the AN answered your question. Yup, Inu-Yasha will appear...but for now, it's be focused on Kagome and Souta, and their drastically changed lives.

Theatre of War: ::Sweatdrops:: Lol.

Shessy-Slipperz/S. Wooz: Nice pen name, lol. I explained about the crying thing in the AN ::points at the author's notes above:: =). Thanks for the compliment!!

FirePrincessTheOneAndOnly: ...I think the review got cut off. ::Sweatdrops:: Lol. Thanks for reviewing anyway. =D

Dark Inu Fan: Lol. Well, we shall see where this story takes us! ;)

Defafaeth Mechqua: XD

Rikku Ookami: Hehe. I explained it in the author's note above. Lots of people asked about that...

the SeVeReD-HaNd: Hey!! Where've you've been? . You stopped reviewing for a while. Lol, oh well. You don't have to...;-; Ok, ok, I'm just kidding.

Rushyuo: Hey, whaddya know? You're the only one who took a guess at the 'different reasons'. Lol. Yeah, I'm updating The High Rankers...ehhh...looks like Trust and Betrayal is gonna have to wait a few days. ::Sigh:: -.-;;

SilverWolf-Ryuki: I know eh? But I'm glad you tried Outlook...and it worked! I'm a genius (psh, yeah right)! Yeah...well.... I have a hard time trying not to tell you what they're about...-.-;; I'm gonna need some masking tape...::gets handed a roll out of nowhere:: ... Anyway...well, at least you've got a reason it took you so long to review...had you simply decided to procrastinate, I would have chucked a tomato at your head. n.n Lol.

Moonglow gal: Hehe, yeah...it was a really puny prologue. Ah well...-.-;; I'll try to finish CITR before summer ends...::checks calender:: ......

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Alright!! So, thanks so much to those who reviewed!! ::Passes out Pocky and plushies::

Would you like a Kirara plush or a Kikyo voodoo doll? It comes with a set of pins, too.

.

Disclaimer: Maybe I can strike a deal with Rumiko Takahashi?

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New Hope

Chapter One: Arrangements

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During the next day after the accident, many friends, relatives and neighbors came to visit Kagome and Souta. They brought things too; mostly food, but there were also toys for Souta, makeup for Kagome, and even money. A very rich friend of theirs even gave both Kagome and Souta brand new camera-phones, in colour, with all the latest features.

Yet, out of about 50 people who had visited, not one brought the most wanted gift: true comfort.

Yes, they all 'comforted' and sympathized...was it real? Were they actually grieving like they said they were?

Souta went through the day, numb. He didn't speak, only the occasional 'thank you' and such. Internally, he was trying to make it out of the storm. His mind was foggy; he didn't really hear what people said. He was on auto pilot. His body was moving of its own accord.

Kagome felt as if her world had been torn apart. There were two more months of high school left. She highly doubted she'd be able to go to university. After all, she was 18, and therefore, according to the law, she had to take care of Souta. How was she going to do that? How was she going to carry on? She had their parent's funeral to plan, high school to finish, a job to find, Souta to take care of, and a home and shrine to manage...

-=-

On Sunday, Kagome and Souta's aunt, Tsukiyomi, helped Kagome plan out the funeral and the money that would go for it. Luckily, they weren't that tight on the financial side, but the funeral did take up a lot. There was enough so that Kagome and Souta could live on it for a while, but not very long.

Aunt Tsukiyomi was completely and utterly shocked that Kagome could handle the arrangements and seeing people hardly a day after being informed of the tragic event. Souta too, was brave enough to see visitors, and didn't make any angry or depressed outbursts.

Even so...Aunt Tsukiyomi noticed, 'Even so, they are almost lifeless'. It was as if the souls of the two children had been extracted.

--Kagome's POV--

Many people offered to take care of us while we got things sorted out, and got over the whole incident. But I denied all the offers. I did not want someone else being my parental figure. I knew that Souta would have hated it too.

At times, I wanted to scream at them. Do you know what's it like to lose your family? To lose your father at age 5, and then lose the almost the rest of your family when you have dreams to go to university, get a career, get married, have kids? I had so many options, so many opportunities...now they had all slipped out of my grasp.

But the thing I feel the most saddened about...was for Souta. Even thought I show no emotion, my heart wrenches to see Souta in such a state.

I swore that I'd do my best to take care of us both. I'd get a job, finish high school, and make sure Souta never suffers loss again. No. He will not suffer twice, like I have.

-=-

--Souta's POV--

Many, many people attended the funeral. Kagome had worn a black long sleeved shirt, and a long black skirt, with a black pantyhose and black shoes. I was dressed in a black shirt and pants.

Before we left, Kagome had kneeled down so she was eye level with me.

"Souta...you are a very good and brave boy. I know this is hard...it's hard for me too. But...let's take it one step at a time, alright?" She smiled at me, but it wasn't a real smile. Simply a stretch of facial muscle.

I knew what Kagome truly meant when she said those words. My interpretation was 'Fate is been fucking cruel to us, but it's required that we keep on living.'

At the funeral, many cried, but I don't remember Kagome or me ever doing so. I vaguely recall my sister's best friend Sango put her hand on Kagome's shoulder as they stood in front of mom's grave. Sango had tears running down her cheeks, yet Kagome stood still as stone, face like stone too. I wanted my old sister Kagome back. Not this Kagome...Kagome isn't stoic. Kagome is bright, loving, and caring. I wanted mom and gramps back too...

I wanted everything to be alright again...

But I couldn't have what I wanted.

-=-

After the funeral, it was already Wednesday. Kagome and I had missed two days of school...well; we had a good reason to. Kagome had asked me if I was ready to go to school yet. I shook my head. I didn't want to face all those people. No, not yet.

"I understand..." Kagome had murmured, and went back to planning the finances and other things I didn't know much about. It was a good thing Kagome was a smart student...it took some worry away to know that Kagome knew what she was doing.

The whole day, I roamed around the house. I went to the second floor. I tossed some things at walls...there wasn't much to do. I roamed the hallways...until I came to mom's room.

Hesitatingly, almost fearfully, I turned the doorknob, and opened the door. Mom's room was still the same as it was before...the accident. It hadn't been touched...except for a ripple of the sheets where someone might have sat. I guessed it was Kagome.

A part of me knew that Kagome too, was scared. She was scared of the world right now, just like me. She would have wanted mom and gramps here for her, especially when she graduated from high school and got into university...I could imagine Kagome coming in here, hesitant at first. Then she would walk towards the bed...sit down...and then she'd talk out loud, whether to mom or herself, with tears running down her cheeks. She'd bury her face in her hands and sob quietly, hoping the heavens would hear her prayers.

...It took everything I had not to do the same.

-=-

On Thursday, I recall Kagome sitting me down with a serious expression. I suppose it wasn't exactly any expression. The point is that she sat me down, and had to inform me of some...changes.

"Souta..." Kagome started, mentally trying to find out where to start. I simply stared at her. I saw my own pain reflected in her stormy cobalt eyes.

"Since grandpa isn't able to run the shrine anymore...and we won't be able to... It's been decided that Aunt Tsukiyomi and Uncle Hoshiyomi will pay for the taxes for the shrine... and we're moving away."

I sat stunned for a while. Kagome waited patiently for me to recover enough to speak.

"But we can still live in the shrine house. We don't have to run the tourist part of it, that's all."

Kagome gnawed at her fingernail for a moment before replying. "Yes, but... it'll be for the best if we lived somewhere else for the time being. I've already got it sorted out. We're moving to two-roomed apartment closer downtown."

I felt tears stinging the back of my eyes, but I refused to let them fall.

"I don't want to move. I want to stay here."

Kagome sighed. "I know Souta. I do too... but this place holds too many memories for both of us. We both grew up in this very house. If we stayed here, it would be hard to move on from this... unfortunate event."

Tears were rolling down my cheeks already, but I made no movement to stem the flow.

Kagome pulled out a tissue from the coffee table opposite from where we were sitting. Gently, she dabbed my face dry.

"Please, Souta. I promise that we'll come back. And we can always come to visit the place. But please, Souta..."

I started sobbing. Kagome leaned over and hugged me. I returned the hug, and cried into my older sister's. After my sobs died down, I wiped my tears off with the back of my hand.

"Alright. Let's start packing, ok?" Kagome asked me gently. I nodded, and walked stiffly up to my room.

I don't want to leave... I really don't...

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...::Sigh::. Okay, if some things are messed up, don't complain about it, okay? I wouldn't know every little thing. So...what do you think? Still like it? Is it getting better? Worse? Review and tell me!!

Oh yeah...ok. I need you guys to help me think of a good name for a band that Inu-Yasha, Miroku and Sesshoumaru are in. ;) Hint hint. They only sing, they don't play the instruments though, ok? Keep in mind that if I don't use your idea, it doesn't mean I don't appreciate it!!

I'd really, really love it if you guys helped me out on this!! =D

Lotsa love, Saki n.n