I was happy that my mother looked after me, the way she did. I knew tomorrow I'd finally see everyone I missed, and see Inuyasha again. I was ready to tell him of how exactly I got the stitches, and finally figure out the truth if he feels the same way about him. I knew I could always tell him the truth how I felt, but now it seemed a lot harder ever since what happened.

Finally my alarm clock went off. I hoped it was a dream, but it wasn't. I was already racing to wear my dreaded school uniform, throwing on my socks and finally grabbing my new backpack, placing in some empty binders and materials.

" Kagome got everything you need?" My mother asked who had prepared breakfast on the table of a thing of ramen noodles for both me and my brother.

" Hopefully." I told her seeing I was in a panic to make a first impression and not look like such an idiot on the first day like last time. I still didn't know my way around the school, or exactly what stair cases lead to which side of the school. It felt like highschool all over again.

I sat myself down throwing back all the noodles, not even having time to properly chew. My eyes were steady on the clock that hung over the stove. No way I was going to be late for the first day of school.

" Bye Mom, bye Sota!"

I called out already half way out the door. My backpack bounced with every step I took, still feeling quite sore from the stitches and bruises. Luckily the deep cut and purplish bruise on my face was clearing up. There was barely any sign that I had been beaten, most of those were covered by clothing and bandages. The stitches were painful; The medicine I was forced to take tasted like a thing of chalk that I had to take to make myself well again.

I rushed underneath the rows of trees, down the sidewalk taking the same familiar route I had always taken to school. The leaves on the trees were already beautiful different colours, and some leaves had already made its way to the ground. Within my regular routine of walking I could see Hojo, off in the distance walking in my way when he caught sight of me. He waved out his hand screaming Higurashi until he was walking side by side with me.

" I'm so happy to see you! How was summer vacation at your cottage?"

His voice sounded cheerful, holding his books underneath his arm, seeing he had gotten a nice tan while he had been away on summer vacation. Every year he went to California, with his family and he never wanted to leave. He even tried to convince me to go, but he knew Inuyasha was accompanying me that summer so he didn't bother. I looked down at our feet; We were walking the exact same pace with every step we took.

" It was pretty good. Inuyasha came up for a few weeks. Let's just say it was interesting enough."

I lied, sparing him the details of what truly happened to me at a party. I knew it was safer not to tell Hojo about the incident because he would bombard me with all these questions, and his voice would sound in a panic. He fixed his bangs taking a deep breath, and looked at me with an eyebrow raised.

" That's all you have to say about your cottage? The Kagome I know would go on for five straight minutes in full out detail."

When he made that mark I couldn't help but blush. It was true. The summer before I didn't shut up at all. I told Hojo about going to the beach, and how things were. He could never get a word in any time I talked about my cottage. He always had to wait patiently until I was out of breath I couldn't go on any longer.

" I know, I know. I have too much to say this time. I'll bore you with the details later." I told him as we staring directly in front of the school, which stood tall. Crowds of faces I recognized stood front chatting and laughing, having the occasional cigarette as I walked directly into the smoke. Hojo had spilt off when he saw this girl, and it was safe to say he finally had a girlfriend.

Most people who hung out in the corner of the school were smokers. I hated them all. They were disgusting, and all huddled around during breaks enough to smoke cigarettes or pass some illegal drugs to each other. They would come in late for tests or work, and their eyes were a sure sign that is what they were doing. The smell caught inside their clothing and jackets. I just didn't seem the fun in it.

The bell finally rang to get inside. The front door was overflowed so I regretfully decided to take the smoker's doors. Carefully I held my breath, and carefully pushed my way through the crowds of guys who's eyes all leered on me, and it was a nerve racking feeling. The minute I went to grab the door I felt one guy try to grab me around the waist.

" Hey hot mama where do you think your going? Come on and smoke with us. We could get to know each other a little bit."

His voice was creepy. It sounded slurred probably from the drugs. He blew the smoke into my face trying to somehow seduce me and intoxicate me with the scent. He assumed I was likely those girls who craved drugs, hoping I would be by his side. Without even looking back at his direction, I smacked his cold, clammy hands away from my waist making sure I didn't say anything back. I wanted to yell at him so badly and tell him, and all of them what I thought, but it would cause more problems then I would want.

" Come on sexy. Give us a little show."

Another guy whispered the words out, while half were just laughing. I just turned away, feeling safe now that I was in the stair well away from them. I just couldn't believe they had the nerve to say that, or even touch me like that. It was unwelcoming, and I was glad I wasn't apart of their group at all.

Classes were long. Most of the teachers I had were teachers I recognized before. They welcomed me into their classroom with their eyes lit up, knowing I was Kagome Higurashi, a girl with really good grades. I went through every single class and this was the first year I didn't have Inuyasha in any of my classes. We had each other for drama, and we were idiots at it. Inuyasha was always the comedian, and I was always the joke in every skit or play. The teachers always paired us up together, since they saw we worked best together. Most girls were jealous that him and I were inseparable. They tried to lure Inuyasha in with their charm and flirty smiles, but none got Inuyasha's attention.

The bell rang for lunch. Every student rushed out into the hall in swarms. Most to the smoker's area, the rest straight for the cafeteria to get their first pick of hamburgers and just baked cookies. Hojo spotted me alone and grabbed my hand tightly, throwing me into a group of guys who played guitar and were shoving each other in lockers.

" Higurashi I thought you'd want some company."

I smiled at the offer. " If Miroku, Sango, or Inuyasha was here then I would be fine."

Hojo gazed around seeing a glimpse of Inuyasha heading through one of the door. Hojo just nudged me with a smile, seeing the long black hair that rested on his shoulders, and his eyes a piercing dark brown. Inuyasha wasn't hard to miss at all. Hojo just smiled, and nudged me in the ribs.

" I just saw Inuyasha going through the doors. You better catch him. I think he's going out for lunch."

I nodded rushing through the doors seeing a bare glimpse of him going out to the smoking doors. I knew he detested smoking or using drugs, but he still was in touch with old friends who were hooked and addicted on it. Inuyasha hung with them time to time, trying to talk them out of an early death. None seemed to listen, even if they looked up to Inuyasha. They knew they were addicts and it had gone to far to just throw it all away.

Carefully I opened the door. There was less of a crowd since most of the smokers went out to lunch down the street to the pizza areas, and back home to their apartments. There we a few gothic looking guys smoking a plain cigarette, talking about doing another gig downtown. I turned the corner to see Inuyasha leaning proudly against the wall with a smile on his face when he saw me. The other guys backed up, while I ran for him.

" Inuyasha!"I screamed. I was excited to see him. I ran fast enough that I flew into him feeling relived to finally find him and speak with him. Inuyasha didn't hug back, but I assumed it was because his guy friends were around.

" I missed you so much. I tried to call you a couple times but you didn't answer."

The guys beside him looked at Inuyasha, and laughed taking another long drag of the cigarette. He placed his fingers through his hair and slid down the wall.

" Isn't that how it always is?"

The guy laughed harder smacking high fives with the other across from him. Inuyasha watched the two flick the cigarettes on the ground, while something in the pit of my stomach didn't feel exactly right.

Inuyasha carefully slid head down on my shoulder exhaustingly, placing his hands below my waist, placing his hands further underneath my skirt. I knew at that time something was wrong. Before I could push away he had me locked tight, his hands firm on the lower part of my body.

" Pstt Inuyasha recognize this girl at all?"

The guy took out his lighter playing his finger through and out of the fire. They had a disgusting tone to their voice exactly like the smoker who tried to get fresh with me. I was more in shock then ever. I doubled check to make sure it was Inuyasha just in case I had made a simple mistake. Inuyasha lifted his head looking down on me, his hands still in the same position they were first in before.

My hands cupped his face, feeling tears ready to form. It was Inuyasha. His pupils were bigger than before, and he looked straight through me. He licked his lips and threw his head back with a slurred laugh.

" Inuyasha it's Kagome remember! See you have the locket around your neck!" Inuyasha's smile grew ear from ear. He looked straight at my face filled with worry, and shook his head with delight.

" Kagome. Kagome. Can't say I remember that name. I never remember girls names. I do recognize your face though. You look like one of the girls I've slept with."

The minute I heard that my heart broken into pieces. I was trying to deny this couldn't be him saying this, or someone who did drugs but the way he looked said it all. He barely had any life left in him. His eyes had dark bags underneath his eyes, and his skin tone looked flushed and pale as ever. His eyes were hazed with redness, and his clothes and breath smelt of cigarettes and pot.His smile wasn't pure anymore, it was sickening. His teeth were tinged yellow, and it didn't look like the same guy who went up to my cottage, and kissed me like he meant it.

Everything seemed it slow motion. Tears were slowly streaming down my face, while the other two guys backed away and had there jaws dropped towards the ground. Inuyasha stood lifelessly, and placed his hand exactly where I my hand had met with his flesh.

" I can't believe you this is you Inuyasha. I can't believe this is you. Never did I thought you come become this. I thought maybe I mistaken you for someone else I guess not."

It killed me inside. He just stood there lifelessly barely even listening to the words I said. He didn't even recognized me, or knew my name. He just assumed since I knew him, and he didn't know me we must of slept together.

I never expected Inuyasha, to be what he is now. A drug addict. I didn't know why he did it or how he changed so quickly. It answered a lot of my questions; Why he didn't call me back, or why he didn't visit me at the hospital. Looking at him now, you never think they were two in the same.