Before I start I would like to thank the following reviewers: Inu Youkai Gurl, CrimsonShadows, Sourskittleschan, KInasha14, and Karmarox thanks for your reviews they mean a lot to me !

Now on with the story…

Loving the Enemy

Chapter 3: The History

As I droved down the dirt road heading to the Higurashi's company offices, a cloud of dust trailed behind me. The offices where nothing special. Just tin huts that looked over the rice paddies and soyabean feilds. They were divided into three sections. One for payroll and billing, my mom's job. One office for ordering and shipping and overall supervision, now my moms job also. And the third office for our foreman. He's in charge of supervising the planting, spraying, and harvesting of the rice. He was new to the job. I didn't really care for him that much, but I knew that we were lucky to have him. Our last foreman, toshi had I heart attack that forced him to retire early. He worked for us as long as I can remember. That happened shortly after we lost our dad; so mom was grateful that someone with experience had answered her add. She could take over my dad's job for a while but not the foreman's too, that was just too much for her.

I opened the door and let the wind slam it for me. Naraku was sitting at his desk with his feet up smoking a cigarette.

" Uh… hi Naraku have you seen my mom?"

" She just left. Went down to Kawasaki I think." He said in his gravely voice that sent cold chills down my spine. That was another reason I disliked Naraku something about him always made me feel uncomfortable and sent shivers down my spine.

I tried to act unaffected, but mom going down to Kawasaki meant that she was going to see dad. I was about to open my mouth to change the subject, but Naraku went on.

" She's an awful pretty lady to be going all through this. I think"

"Thanks Naraku, I'll see her at home."

I stumbled though the door and leaned against the hot tin side, hopping that Naraku didn't see the glisten in my eyes. The hot melt started to burn against my skin but all I felt was the hot streaming tears that ran down my face. I didn't take an outsider lke Naraku to tell me what my mother was going through. I pushed away form the hot side and stared to walk up the hill to the section of land that over looked the ocean. I was heading for "my rock" a large flat boulder that had been my refuge when I was a child. It had been a island, castle, a boat, anything my imagination would think of, it became. Today all I wanted it to be was far away from everything else.

I reached the top of the hill and sit down on my rock. I tried to catch my breath. The lump in my throat was cutting the air off. I closed my eyes and tried to force the air in. Deeply, slowly.

I was only a small speck, alone, on top of the world and that's all that I wanted to be. Surrounded by the precious Takahashi land, the Higurashi land, and the ocean… I was ten years old again. Why did everything have to change?

Why did my father have to kill a Takahashi?

It was an accident of course, but who's gona believe him? The hatred between the Takahashi and the Higurashi's go back five generations. It all started when the Takahashi sisters part ways.

Kikyo Takahashi was a slut. She slept around with anything that wore pants. And when she became pregnant without marriage, her sister, Keada Takahashi refused to ever see her again. When their parents died and left the sisters thousands of acres that is now known as Shikon No Tama they split it right down the centre using an old barb wire fence, that is still here today in some places.

Views were a dime a dozen back then, so not much thought was put into them when they divided up the land. The Higurashi's got the best of it. We know its s torn in the Takahashi's side that million dollar views are being wasted for soybeans and rice. Its not like they would even enjoy it. Kikyo Takahashi sold off huge chunks of land and when it was convenient she sold it all. My parents say it was the only way a woman like her could gain acceptance in her day.

Nowadays there isn't a single acre of Takahashi land that doesn't have a hotel, shopping mall, or housing on it. That's why they're filthy rich. My parents emphasize the filthy part. While the Higurashi land is the green jewel, a breathing space, a amusing wonder in a sea of concert. Not one single acre has ever been sold, not one. It is the pride of the Higurashi's but with that pride we carry a lot of debt. That's why we are usually broke.

I've heard the story a thousand times. My grandfather would tell it to me before he died and now my father did. "The Takahashi's are not to be trusted. They have no feelings, no sense of right and wrong. They are empty shell that devours everything in their path. That's the way they have always been and always will be. It has always bonded the Higurashi's the few that we are, knowing itwas against them. It is hard to believe that we were once related to the Takahashi's.

A trail of dust was forming down on the road below me. It was my mother; she had came back form her visit with dad. I wondered which part of her would be gone today? Her and my dad were very close and the indecent left her very tired. They would have surely put my mother in jail also if only she didn't have a farm to run and kids to raise. Every time she returns form seeing dad she looks a little bit more tired and old. It seems that every time she sees him it take a little more out of her. I don't know how much more she can take.

I pull my eyes away form the dust trail and to the Takahashi empire beyond. They had no Idea how much pain their lies had caused. But someday they would know. I would make sure of it. I ran down the hill to my car and drove home.

When I arrived home my mom was in her bedroom with the door closed. I knew what that meant. Soon I'd hear the shower pipes ringing, and then she would emerge as though the cold water could wash away any pain that she held. Both of us knew that wasn't true but it could at least hide the tears. She was a Higurashi too, and making the best of it.

I ran up to my bedroom and flopped on my bed, I wanted to call Sango Yamamoto, my best friend but I was afraid that if I called her she should start talking about her first day at school and I would start to cry. Instead I pulled out all the papers that my mother had to sign. Contracts that I would arrive on time, turn in my homework on time, respect others, complete all assignments, and not cheat! What a waste of paper. I skimmed through the outline of my science class and English class. It was not what I imagined. All my years at St. Michaels Academy I thought the "other school" would be as shallow as the Takahashi's but these classes actually look challenging. I looked through all the other paper that needed to be signed, Medical Releases, Codes of Conduct, Textbook Agreements, lunchtime passes. Lunch. I though about the only peaceful part of my day, the part that filled me with anticipation for tomorrow. My eyes started to glaze over as I looked at the pile; my pillow reached up and grabbed my head.

Green, green. The cool green grass on my cheek, bits of golden sun break through the clouds as they cover me in their warmth. The warm amber rays heats up my skin and makes me tingle… clear, warm amber that reminds me that I'm only seventeen years old, that I still want to laugh, dream, hope…love. The blackness that hugs my soul retreats…

" KAGOME! Its your turn to set the dinner table." Sota's whining voice jolted me awake."

I leaped from my bed and grabbed the pile of papers that my mom needed to sign. I walked down the stairs and join my brother and mother in the kitchen. I set the table and placed and the pile of papers where my mother would sit so she would see them. As we sat down at the table we ll held each others hands and said a quick prayer. We prayed for everything, our food, good crops, and for my father. But we never prayed for the Takahashi's.

" So tell me about your guys days." My mom said.

"How did it go?"

Sota rattled on and on about his day as I picked at spaghetti.

" And then coach tells me that I should try out for the football team."

" That's wonderful honey, and Kagome did you make any new friends?"

My mom and Sota stared at me with expectant eyes. I knew what they wanted to hear. I lie was justified. I swallowed my mouth full of spaghetti. "Yah I meat someone, a boy."

" And does this boy have a name?" my mom asked.

I rolled his name around my tongue before I whispered it. "Inuyasha."

I expected Sota to make fun at the name or accused me of liking him but he only gave me an odd glance before he focussed on his spaghetti. It wasn't like Sota at all.

I was quiet for a long time now, only the occasional cough and clinking of forks on the plates was heard. My mother stopped eating and shifted in her seat.

"I have some news." She said.

Sota and I put our forls down and looked up. My throat started to tighten, my mother never "had news" I didn't want news.

"Its your father," she said. "He's coming home."

So? Good, bad, ok? Please review. Oh and before I forget I won't be able to update til next week. Sorry about this but I'm going to Vancouver for 5 days and I have a lot to tests coming up to study for, so the next chapter will be out by Wednesday next week. And thanks to all who reviewed it means a lot to me to know that people like reading my story.