p Sunlight streamed in through the single window, and the icy-bated winter fall breeze crept in through the window, and blew the curtain about.

p The small alarm clock in the room began to ring, and a hand slammed down with enormous force onto the button, and an angry groan was heard.

p "I hate you." Inuyasha growled at the small clock, shaking it around violently. Shippou darted over and rescued the small electronic.

p "Stop that! We can't afford to buy ANOTHER one." He scolded the older boy. His reward was a fist slamming into his head. He glared at Inuyasha as he slid out of bed and placed his feet on the cold wooden floor. He shivered in the morning cold, the wind moving about the threadbare and torn t-shirt he was wearing. He grimaced in pain as the familiar feeling swept through his torso, and he reached over to the small dresser, grabbing the small bottle of Darvon, shaking about five or six pills into his waiting palm before swallowing them all at once. He then got up and began to dress himself in a pair of black jeans and a red t-shirt, mumbling quietly to himself.

p Shippou watched from behind the door, shaking his head in an upset fashion, but he had no time to dwell on it, because before he knew it, he was rushing through the house and out the door, running for his bus.

p Inuyasha ran into the kitchen, where Miroku and Sango had already busied about making breakfast and lunch for all three. He grabbed his paper bag and joined the other two in running out of the door, each holding a bagel.

p Mark was waiting for them. He hugged Miroku and Sango, bidding them a good day. He stared at his last foster child with a strange look in his eyes.

p "Have a nice day, Inuyasha." He said, reaching out to hid his third child. Inuyasha raised his arms and knocked Mark away, shoving him roughly into the wall before glaring at him and pushing his way out of the door.

p "That's the way to do it…show us that famous charm of yours." Said Miroku with an odd smile. He was oddly attractive, with dark hair and eyes, and a small ponytail. He raked a hand through his bangs and shook his head. "I'm surprised he hasn't slapped you."

p "He wouldn't dare." Said Inuyasha slightly groggily.

p "You didn't take any medication, did you?" asked Sango in frustration.

p "What if I did?" demanded Inuyasha with a sort of snarl in his voice. Sango and Miroku backed off, sighing quietly to themselves.

p "Did either of you finish that homework?" asked Sango, making a brave stab at civilized conversation.

p "Of course." Said Inuyasha with a touch of bragging in his voice. Miroku smirked and giggled.

p "Shut up, you fairy." Said Sango with a laugh herself. Inuyasha chuckled quietly to himself, and Miroku blushed an odd sort of pink.

p Kagome surveyed her reflection in her mirror. She was a beautiful girl, with dark russet eyes, and shiny dark hair, and a glowing smile and skin. She was gorgeous. Her delicate hands smoothed over her body, pushing out any wrinkles in her perfect uniform. Each pleat fell perfectly, and her white shirt gleamed, her fresh collar hanging down her back. She sighed, ready as she would ever be, and grabbed her yellow bag, and ran out the door.

p The walk to her new school was pleasant enough. The beautiful colors of the trees lining the streets of Tokyo were beautiful, and she sighed in happiness. She knew transferring to school in the next-to-last year wasn't a terribly smart move, but being accepted into the more prestigious school was a definite step forwards.

p She could see other kids in green-and-white uniforms turning into the school ahead of her. She took a deep breath and stepped onto her new campus for the first time.

p Her eyes swept over the many many people, and she tried to smile as much as possible, and appear as friendly as she could, but the people there paid her no more attention than if she were another tree in the ground. Kagome shrunk back a little without even realizing it.

p She began to look for someone familiar, but her eyes were caught by three people standing by themselves.

p A young girl, probably her age, was standing with her profile facing Kagome. She had beautiful eyes, and the sun caught her hair, which was tied close to the ends behind her back. Her hands were flying about in a way that suggested that she was having an argument.

p The second member was a charismatic-looking boy with a short ponytail, and bangs that fell almost into his eyes, and a charming smile. He was nodding, kind of like he was agreeing with the girl, but Kagome's eyes noticed that his own were following the many campus girls.

p The last member seemed to intrigue her the most. He had piercing amber eyes, a most unusual color, and his hair was very long, longer than even her own, and dark ebony color. He seemed to be angry, and his manner suggested that he was accustomed to being the best. The girl seemed as though he were yelling at her, but he retaliated, with an arm that looked as though it had taken at least three months in a gym. He looked very fit, but somewhat unhappy. But, Kagome had no time for musing, because the bell rang, and everyone began to rush into the school. Kagome took a breath and followed them in.

p As she walked along the hallways, she noticed teachers weaving in and out of the chattering students. She took off her street shoes, and changed into her indoor shoes, and as she did, she felt a hand on her shoulder.

p The serene smile of Kaede-san was looking down on her. Kaede smiled at her and raised her to her feet.

p "Welcome to Sasayo High, Kagome-chan. How are-"and here she broke off. The boy with very long hair had just walked by. "Excuse me for a minute." She said, her attitude changing a little. She ran over and grabbed the boy by the shoulder, pushing him around to face her. The two of them had a furious and fast conversation, where Kaede began to try and re-arrange the buttons on his uniform jacket. The boy pushed her hands away, yelled something, and rushed off. Kaede shook her head in disappointment. Kagome wished that she had been able to hear, but the cheerful chatter of the crowd had disrupted it. She watched the boy push roughly through the multitude of students and was soon lost from her view.

p 'Who is he?'