-Hello Everyone!" Here is the real chapter 1. This story is 1/2 of a high school fic and is narrated mostly by Kagome. So Enjoy !

Things to remember!: Bold = thoughts A.C= author's comments

Disclaimer: I DON'T OWN INUYASHA! Or ANYTHING ELSE!

Chapter 1

Two years later...

"Thank you for flying Japan Airways. We will be landing soon! Please stay in your seats and the captain will give you further instructions." The flight attendant said while flashing a big insincere smile at the passengers. She had always loved traveling and dreamed of being a flight attendant because they seemed so happy. Then she found out how stressful her job was: disgruntled passengers, turbulence, kids running on the plane, bad conduct, and worst of all sexual harassment. She started to push the tray she had left in the corner down the aisle. As she was pushing the tray a man whistled and groped her and several others tried to look up her skirt. "Assholes!" she thought. She continued flashing smile at the passengers and poured drinks for them despite of the fact that she was pissed off. . Not far from fuming attendant, was a young girl about the age of seventeen who was sitting by a window. That's me.She glared at me for some reason but I decided not to care. Instead, I looked at the paper in my hands. The paper read: "Congratulations Kagome Higurashi! You have completed the Two-year Student Exchange Program! We hope that you have enjoyed your stay in America! Best wishes on your academic future." I wished that I wasn't going back to Japan. There is just so much crap that happened when I left plus I will have to go back to my old life.
Finally, the plane landed at the Tokyo International Airport, and I went in search of her family. This was going to be easy. All I had to do was to look for someone who looked out of the ordinary. Sure enough, there was an elderly man dressed in the clothes of a shrine keeper. In his hand, was a small package. "Hello, Grandpa." I said with a smile on my face.

"Hello Kagome, Welcome back! I have something for you"

He hands the package to me, which I carefully opened only to see a pretty red bracelet. I was officially in the state of shock.

Wow, this could be the first normal present he has ever given me. It's too good to be true!

For those in the dark my grandfather is notorious for giving "unique" gifts. Case and point: for fifteenth birthday, he gave me a mummified hand of some ancient water creature. I instantly decided that I wasn't worthy of such a wonderful gift so I gave it to Buyo. I'm glad to say he didn't have any complaints.

Grandpa was beaming with extreme happiness.

"I am glad you like it, this bracelet has been handed down from generation to generation!"

I didn't like the sound of that. Any gift that I or my brother Souta receives from Grandpa that has been "handed down from generation to generation usually ends up having a creepy tale/past linked to it.

"This bracelet was formed in the body of a centipede youkai." my grandfather continued in a happy and proud voice.

See what I mean? Oh crap! I knew it was too good to be true. I will never wear this bracelet.

"Enjoy it! It is my gift to you.",Grandpa told in a cheerful voice

"Thanks Grandpa." I say in the fakest thankful voice I could manage. "It's ...really...something" I wonder if Buyo will actually like his new chew toy. He always does.

Soon we finally left the airport with my stuff packed inside. It took us a while because, this might surprise you: Grandpa is old. I was just kidding. It surprised him. Just him. He hurt his back while trying to lift the heaviest bag that brought with me. We had to get someone to carry and pack the luggage for us. After staying in the car for an hour listening to traditional music, the old man's back got better.

"Come on Kagome," he finally said "let's go home. I'll drive." Those were two words that I never wanted to hear out of his mouth for many reasons. "Grandpa, Don't you need a license?" That might stop him. He smiled and replied, "I do have one! Don't worry Kagome! I have improved my driving since you left but I have always been a good driver haven't I?

I wasn't listening anymore because my mind had started to drift to the past.

Flashback

Four years ago.... I was thirteen years of age and I was still stuck in middle school. On this particular day, Mom and Dad got sick at the same time. They had sent for Kaede to come to help around the house but she would be coming until tomorrow. Who on earth was going to take care of the house and us until then? So my parents went to the last resort. Yes, Grandpa was officially in charge. (sarcastically) Great! That's just Great! Kagome's parents were sick and the grandfather was in charge.

"Kagome! Souta! Breakfast is ready! Come you two come down! Breakfast is the most important meal of the day!" Grandpa had been shouting for a good five minutes but we still didn't come out.

As usual, we were hiding in my room because we were scared of what weirdo experiment he cooked up that day.

"But Sis, I don't want to go down!" Souta kept on whining. "Come on Souta, we have to go to school soon" I said. Then I grabbed his hand and the two of us went into the kitchen and sat at the table.

We were reluctantly awaiting the breakfast our grandfather had prepared for us. Now my grandpa loved to experiment with foods in order to produce the perfect meal but all of the meals were just too outrageous for everyone else especially us.

"Finally you're here. I know you both have an exam to do today so I made something special. It will revive your strength and adjust your mind to do well on the exams. Then, he gave us each a bowl of some kind of soup.

What is this? I had asked after staring at it for probably the longest 7 seconds of my life.

Grandpa simply replied, "Brain food."

I pressed on, "Are you sure?" Seriously, was he? I just wanted to be sure that I was about to eat something that was edible.

"Of course I am! Look at your brother! He ate everything! Why can't you?" said an annoyed Grandfather. I looked at him. He was hesitant when he started to eat it but Souta had happily finished the soup. That happiness would soon be short lived.

"That's nice Grandpa...but I still don't want to eat it!" I replied back.

"Hey Grandpa, this isn't bad. What is made of?" Souta asked

I couldn't tell you that! It is a great family secret that has been handed down from our ancestors. Only family will know the recipe!" said our grandfather as if we were some kind of spies.

"Grandpa, we are your family." Souta said that with a twinge of annoyance.

"Oh that's right!" was his reply. How could he have forgotten that?

"Souta, you might not want to find out the recipe" I told him. I was trying to save him from unwanted info.

Grandpa: It is an ancient thinking soup that helps you think better. It is flavor with a eel's head to help quicken your brain.

A.C: I made this up. Finding Nemo somehow inspired this.

"Eww...I think that head just winked at me!" It did wink at me. I think Grandpa didn't cook the head he just put it in the soup raw.

Nonsense! I assure both of you that eating this will make you smarter." Said the man who was trying to defend his close to poison soup.

The only thing feeling smart in this room is Souta's stomach." was my reply. Sure enough Souta looked greener than Jaken. Which wasn't a very pretty picture.

(A.C: Jaken is in this fic but he comes in a later chapter)

Boy was I glad that I didn't eat the soup. But I couldn't help but pity Souta. "Kids these days!" sighed Grandpa, "That recipe has been passed down from"....

"Generation to generation! We know already!" Souta & I had said simultaneously.

Grandpa shook his head and spoke in a defeated voice, "Well ... I am going to give this soup to you parents. At least they will appreciate and also it helps them get better."

Or help them get worse I thought

Flash forward to when we finally had to leave for school and we were now near the car. As expected, Souta was still trying to recover from the breakfast episode but he was too scared to stay home and have our grandfather watch over him. Then Grandpa appeared in his priestly robes with an old bottle of sake in his hand. He then proceeded to pour sake all over the car.

Souta was probably thinking: What in the world was he doing now?

"Um...Grandpa are you doing?" Souta had spoken in a meek voice

"Good that you should ask that, Souta.", spoke my grandfather I am driving away the evil spirits that might want us to crash that could be in this car. The sake of our ancestors is an ancient ward against evil spirits.

With a smirk I asked him, "Grandpa, if it's the sake of our ancestors, why does it have a price tag on it?"

Exasperated, he finally gets into the car and we followed.

Suddenly concerned Souta asked, "Grandpa, have you been practicing your driving?"

Of course I have! I'm assured that I am a safe driver. Grandpa had said that in a voice of pure disbelief. He couldn't understand why we would question his driving skills.

Then he finally starts the car.

Souta closed his eyes and hold on to my hand. I was smart enough to stay in the back seat. Now, Grandpa's driving can be described in one word: unstable. On his way to Souta's school, he ran red and missed the road.Of course, we got pissed. He then assured us that he knew a "shortcut" that will take us back to the main road. When the main road was in sight, he made a sudden U- turn in a 4-way intersection causing 3 car accidents. An innocent family of cats was close to being road kill by the old man's reckless driving. We had finally reached our destination. When that car screeched to a halt, the two of us bolted out of the car in lightening speed. Souta ran as fast as he could into the school and I convinced my grandfather that I would feel better if she exercised by walking the next two blocks to my school.

End of Flashback I jolted back to reality only to hear the sound of snapping fingers near my eardrum. I simply cannot relieve that nightmare. "What if I drove instead?" I said. I really want to live to see my 18th birthday!

"I'm not so sure." He said as he wrinkled his face with uncertainty. "There are recent studies that point out that teens are one of the most reckless drivers."

AC: Correct me if this is wrong. Thanks! Any ways...

Obviously, these people haven't had Grandpa drive them anywhere.

It will be okay. I replied, still trying to get that man away from the steering wheel. Those studies could be mistaken. Come on, I am your granddaughter. Don't you trust me? Seriously, do you?

Kagome, you just got off a plane. You must be tired. My grandfather answered

"Yeah" I said dejectedly. You never answered my question! I decided that if he was so determined to drive, I will "enjoy" the ride from the safety of the back seat. My grandpa forced me to sit in the front because I apparently needed observe his driving skills so I could become a better driver. Has he even seen me drive? Oh well I don't care anymore. As long as we get out of this stupid airport I'll be fine.

Grandpa really improved on his driving! Well, kind of. He ran through 3 red lights, almost committed a hit and run crime to a family of cats. And made a sharp turn when he almost missed the way to the shrine.

When we finally stopped, I got out. The first thing that came to mind was relief. I always feel that way when Grandpa stops driving. I got out of the car and started to walk to the shrine. It was weird because I hadn't seen it for two whole years. The door suddenly opened and out came my twelve- year-old brother Souta. He runs up to where I was and just stares at me. He stares at me to the point that I get freaked out and start to fight the urge to slap him out of it.

"You look different", He finally said. Is that all you have to say to me? Hello, you haven't seen me in a year! I decided to shrug the pissed off feeling I was getting and I asked about how middle school was.

"Hard!" was the reply. Then he looked at me and smiled, "Now that you're back...can you take me to the arcade two weeks from now? I am royally pissed off. I just came back from America and already the brat wants me to be his personal chauffer. I could only give him a cold glare. "Please," he continues to plead, "You have been gone for so long! Plus I have been stuck with that stupid cousin of ours for far too long

A.C: Read the intro but more info will be provided in later chapters.

I sighed and agreed to his wishes so he will just leave me the hell alone. My mom finally came out of the shrine. She smile when she sees me and says, "Welcome home Kagome! Is there something you would like to eat?

"Sure," I reply "let me just put some things up in my room" With that I take one bag and head towards my room. Souta and Mom also take a bag and slowly follow. My grandfather decided to take the smallest load and likewise followed them.

I scanned the familiar hallways and stairs in the house. It has been so long since I set foot in this house. I might take a long hot bath before going to sleep on my warm, cozy bed. Boy did I miss my bed! And also my room!

I finally reached my door. I searched for the key that I hadn't used in a while. The key to my room which Grandpa gave back to me before I went in the house. I found the key and place it in the lock on the door. Boy I can't wait to finally enter my room! I slowly opened the door and looked inside. I couldn't move. I was to shocked to move. "AAAH!!! WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO MY ROOM!!!!!!

A.C: Sorry that this chapter is very long. I kind of got carried away. This kinds of gives you a preview of how Kagome thinks of her life. It will get more interesting later on. It took me months just to type this story up no thanks to school. I have never gotten use to writing a story in this form. I will continue this story only because I like writing it. If you do review, try not to flame. Thank you so much! Later Days!